London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]

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Eat Precautions— continued.

Date. 1927.Vessel.Where lying.
Oct. 10ss. " Telde "East India Dock.
„ 13ss. "Nortonian"Royal Albert Dock.
„ 15ss. "Orotava"East India Dock.
„ 21ss. "Esperance Bay"King George V. Dock.
„ 21ss. "Argual"East India Dock.
„ 29ss. "Telde"„ „
„ 29ss. "Gallic"King George V. Dock.
Nov. 3ss. "London Exchange"Surrey Commercial Dock
„ 5ss. "Orotava"East India Dock.
„ 12ss. "Argual"„ „
14ss. "Moreton Bay"King George V. Dock.
„ 16ss. "Mamilius"„ „
„ 19ss. "Telde"East India Dock.
„ 22ss. "Horatius"King George V. Dock.
„ 26ss. "Orotava"East India Dock.
ss. " ervis Bay"King George V. Dock.
Dec. 3ss. "Argual"East India Dock.
„ 10ss. "Telde"„ „
„ 14ss. "Otira"King George V. Dock.
„ 17ss. "Orotava"East India Dock.
„ 20ss. "Ferndale"King George V. Dock.
,, 21ss. "Medic"„ „
„ 23ss. "Argual"East India Dock.

BATS AND RAT DESTRUCTION.
For Reports on cases of Cholera and Small-pox and Plague-infected rats see
Tables IV., V. and XXXII. respectively.
Measures against Rodents.
(1) Steps taken for detection of rodent Plague :—
(a) In ships in the Port. It is the duty of Inspectors to make a close
examination on the discharge of a cargo on ships arriving from
a foreign port as to the presence of any mortality among the rats
on a ship; such mortality, if present, would be found either on the
opening of hatches or even quite late on the discharge of cargo.
(b) On quays, wharves, warehouses, &c., in the vicinity of the Port.
A similar strict watch for mortality is kept on the quays and
warehouses of the docks. The number of rats during this year were
sent to the Seamen's Hospital, Royal Albert Dock, London, in
continuity from the time when this Institution was closely connected
with the London School of Tropical Medicine, as indeed it is also at
present, where an examination of spleen smears is a routine practice
in the absence of mortality. With a mortality closer examination is
directed. A detection of mortality in the Port, except on incoming
ships, has not been found for some years. Wharves and warehouses
on the riverside, apart from docks, are not in the jurisdiction of the
Port of London Sanitary Authority.
(2) Measures taken to prevent the passage of rats between ships and shore :—
The booming-off of the ship from the shore, rat guards, tarred
frapping of ropes, rat-proof gangway doors and the whitening and
illumination of the gangways are the measures used to prevent the
passage of rats between ship and shore.
(3) Methods of deratisation of :—
(a) Ships. Methods of deratisation on ships are: Sulphur, burned,
3 lbs. per 1,000 cubic feet of space; lowest limit of time, six hours.
Hydrocyanic acid, by liquid method; by "Zyklon 'B'" method;
and recently by a method of "Sanos" gas (Hydrocyanic acid);
0.2 per cent, atmosphere; lowest limit of exposure, two hours.
(b) Premises in the vicinity of docks or quays. Rat catchers, poisons,
traps, cats and a constant watch as to where these are most necessary.
(4) Measures taken for the detection of rat prevalence in ships and on shore :—
Examination by Inspectors.