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8
5, Church Passage,
Guildhall, E.C. 2,
January, 1929.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE PORT OF LONDON SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit herewith the Annual Report of the
Medical Officer of Health for the Port of London for the year 1928.
Dr. W. M. Willoughby, who had occupied the position of Medical Officer of
Health for the Port of London from February, 1916, was, on the 17th May, appointed
Medical Officer of Health for the City of London, but continued to act in the former
capacity until the 17th September, when I had the honour of entering upon my duties
in your service.
The tonnage of vessels entering the Port of London during 1928 was 27,741,734,
showing an increase of 1,529,111 tons over that for the year 1927. Of the 15,936
vessels arriving from foreign ports, your Medical Officers actually boarded 1,849 at
Gravesend and 181 at Sheerness, making a total of 2,030 vessels boarded. This is an
increase of 316 over the number of vessels boarded in 1927. The practice of hailing
all vessels from " foreign " was continued throughout the year.
75,501 passengers and 57,173 members of crews were examined. These figures
also are considerably in excess of those for the previous year.
The number of cases of illness reported on by the Medical Officers was 824,
and, although this was 42 less than the previous year, the number of cases removed
to Denton Hospital for Infectious Diseases was 75, which was 28 more than in the
previous year.
No case of human Plague arrived in the Port, but six Plague-infected rats were
found in one vessel, details of which are given on page 14. No Plague infection of
the shore rat population occurred.
Eight vessels from which cases of Small-pox had been removed arrived, but no
actual case was found on vessels in the Port.
The fumigation of vessels for the destruction of rats has increased considerably
in recent years, and during the year under review 180 vessels were fumigated for; this
purpose, as against 136 in 1927. Altogether, 279 Certificates were issued during the
year in respect of measures of rat destruction on vessels.
The Sanitary Inspectors made 15,951 inspections of vessels and 6,341 inspections
of shore premises during the year. Orders to cleanse crew's quarters were made on
1,391 vessels, and it was found necessary to order structural alterations and repairs
on 299 vessels.
Orders to remedy structural defects were made in respect of 67 shore premises.
Forty-six statutory notices were served, as shown in Appendix XXXVI.
Twentv infringements of the Bye-laws relating to offensive cargoes were reported,
and intimation notices were sent to the offenders, but no legal proceedings were taken.
The carrying out of the provisions of the Public Health (Imported Food)
Regulations, 1925, formed an important part of the work of the Authority. During
the latter part of the year mutton imported from Australia and South America was
found to be extensively affected with Caseous Lymphadenitis, and examination of the
whole of the mutton from those sources became necessary. Had this been attempted
in the docks, serious delay and expense to trade would have resulted; therefore, as an
alternative, arrangements were made with the Medical Officers of Health for the
City of London and certain Metropolitan Boroughs to undertake the examination of
whole consignments in Cold Stores in their districts. Ten percent. of the consignments
for provincial towns were retained in Dock Stores for examination by your Inspectors,
the residue being allowed to proceed on receipt of guarantees that such mutton would
not be removed from provincial cold stores until it had been examined by the Medical
Officer of Health concerned.
The Annual Report on the working of the Canal Boats Acts and Regulations
is appended. In only one case was it necessary to take legal proceedings.