View report page

68
LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
VISIT OF FOREIGN MEDICAL OFFICERS.
On Saturday, March 20th, Medical Officers of Health from France, Germany,
Greece, Japan, Yugo Slavia, Panama, Austria, Brazil, Canada, and Hungary,
together with the Medical Officers of Health of Kensington and Halifax amongst
the British Boroughs, examined the conditions obtaining in the jurisdiction of
your Worshipful Committee. Denton Hospital was visited and due explanation
of the system of Port Sanitation found to be sufficient and effective in the circumstances
of the London waterway, made.
The Officers expressed to your Chairman their great appreciation of the facilities
and hospitality offered by the Port Sanitary Authority in this demonstration.
Estimation of the benefits of such meetings is difficult, under-estimation very
easy ; on the lowest grounds they constitute good business and on the higher plane
consolidate that comity of nations to which Port Sanitation is always subject
and for many decades has been increasingly submitted to a degree not customarily
recognised outside Port Sanitary Authorities.
VISIT OF NORTH SEA AND BALTIC PORT MEDICAL OFFICERS.
A visit under International arrangement of North Sea and Baltic Port Medical
Officers to the jurisdiction of your Worshipful Committee is of definite significance
compared with former visits of foreign Medical Officers. At present the North
Sea and Baltic are so free from ship-borne diseases that they alone, amongst
the ports of the world, save for a few coast lines, are not submitted in the Port
of London to a detailed examination of their arrivals, though, of course, the
usual quarantine questions are put.
This state of affairs is one which it is highly desirable should be maintained,
and if there be anything in the methods of the Port of London Sanitary Authority
which can be of use to this end when applied to their ports it would be beneficial,
as also that our methods be seen and, even possibly, criticised.
Without an intimate knowledge of the work of Port Sanitation it cannot
be sufficiently recognised how that such a visit may chance to be of large monetary
worth to this Port and country.
Internationalism with regard to ship-borne diseases is no new phase in the
world's history, but such recent developments as these educative tours for those
most intimately concerned is a new and welcomed feature.
GLASGOW DEPUTATION.
A Deputation of four members from Glasgow visited the Port, at short notice,
011 Tuesday, the 14th September, seeking information which would aid in determining
the arrangements of Port Sanitation at Glasgow as regards ship-borne
diseases.
The Chairman of your Worshipful Committee afforded hospitality and your
Medical Officer information, for both of which the members of the Deputation
expressed themselves greatly indebted, especially as finding a similarity of quality
in the problems of the ports of London and Glasgow.
JUBILEE CELEBRATION AND CONGRESS.
ROYAL SANITARY INSTITUTE.
In connection with the Jubilee Celebration and Congress of the Royal Sanitary
Institute, held in London from July 5th to 10th, there was a gathering of Chairmen
of Port Sanitary Authorities and Port Medical Officers, in view of a special Port
Sanitary Section.
A survey of the Port afforded to these gentlemen by means of the launch
"Joseph White," under the Presidency of Mr. Victor Brown, was much
appreciated.