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12
The ss. "Eumæus" arrived at Gravesend on the 18th March, having landed
a case of smallpox at Singapore for observation, on the 14th February. The case
was definitely diagnosed as smallpox on the 16th February. General vaccination
took place at Singapore with 75 per cent. successful. Complete disinfection
of the vessel was carried out at Penang. No further case occurred.
Your Medical Officer received the following unusual document from an Indian
port, signed by the Port Health Officer there, a native of India :—
Health Officer, Port of _,
23rd February, 1926.
"Sir,
I have the honour to report for your information that the ss "_,".
under the command of Captain_, sails to-day, the 23rd February, 1926,
from this port for London,
via Gallee and Malabar
Coast, with a number of
Indian Crews, the bulk of
whom were engaged at
cutta, which was declared
suspected, on account of
Smallpox, and where it was
prevalent in an endemic
form when they were recruited, and that they were not vaccinated at the time of
or after engagement.
Lascar:—Yeassin, s/o Muslim.
Winchman:—Munsooralle, s/o Abdul.
Fireman 1st Tindal:—Roisalle, s/o Mhd. Jossun.
Fireman:—Mackroomallee, s/o Umbar Meah.
Cussab:—Umborallee, s/o Fazal Mahmd.
" The marginally noted Indian Crews, who do not bear any marks of vaccination,
were not vaccinated by this Department, as the master of the vessel did
not want it and the vaccination is not compulsory in this port.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
>)
Of course the personnel named in the letter would afford a susceptible field
for transmission of smallpox of whatever form to this country, but the chief
interest in the document lies in the fact that the ports which export ship-borne
diseases are now so closely cared for as to afford the information here contained.
It is also interesting that apparently both India and our own country are debarred
the benefits that would accrue from vaccination of susceptible persons liable to
hand this disease to and fro.
The reasonableness of powers to insist on vaccination of the susceptibles on
a ship from an epidemic centre should be very obvious.
The ss. "Automedon" arrived at Gravesend from Dalny on the 31st March
with two cases of smallpox on board.
Case 1.—The vessel was at Shanghai from the 11th—20th February, 1926.
The patient was taken ill on the 3rd March and reported to the ship's surgeon
on the 5th March, and was placed in isolation on the 9th March. A papular rash
appeared on face and arms on the 9th March. Smallpox rash aborted, no scabbing.
The patient returned to duty on the 15th March. Infected at Shanghai.
Case 2.—Immediate contact with case 1, occupying the same cabin with
him. Took ill 21st March with backache, etc. Rash appeared on the 25th March.
Both cases were removed to Denton Hospital on the arrival of the vessel at
Gravesend. The hospital cabin and poop quarters were fumigated and washed
down with "Izal" solution. All bedding and effects were removed for steam
disinfection.
The whole of the crew and passengers were vaccinated on the 9th March
but without any success, and were re-vaccinated on 31st March. All were well
on inspection.
The vessel was kept under observation during her stay in the Port of London
and the names and addresses of the passengers and crew were notified to the
respective Medical Officers of Health of the districts concerned.
No further case occurred.