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ss. "Ranpura": This vessel arrived off Gravesend on 1st March. Information
had been received that the saloon barman had been landed to hospital at Marseilles,
where he had died four hours after admission. The Medical Officer of the hospital had
suggested that the case was one of Hæmorrhagic Small-pox, death occurring before
the appearance of the typical eruption. The ship's surgeon did not agree with this
diagnosis, but as consideration of all the available information made it impossible
definitely to exclude the possibility of the case having been one of Hsemorrhagic
Small-pox the immediate contacts were vaccinated, and the names and addresses of
passengers and crew were forwarded to the Medical Officers of Health of the districts
of destination. If the disease was Small-pox, no secondary case occurred in this
country.
ss. "Æneas": On arrival of this vessel at Gravesend, on the 2nd March, it was
ascertained that a case of Small-pox and four contacts had been landed at Hong Kong.
The ship had been put into quarantine, and all the passengers and crew vaccinated.
Complete disinfection had been carried out by the Hong Kong Health Authority.
No other case occurred.
ss. "Laverock" : On 6th March the Medical Officer of Health of West Ham
telephoned that he had just seen N. H., a fireman from the ss. "Laverock," at his
home, and that the man was suffering from a mild attack of Small-pox. Enquiries
showed that the man had been infected at home and had gone to sea during the
incubation period of the disease, the eruption appearing just as the vessel arrived in
the Port of London on 6th March. The Master had reported "all well" at Gravesend,
as N. H. was then carrying on with his work, having, so far as the Master knew,
recovered from an attack of "influenza," for which he had reported sick on 3rd and
4th March. The usual precautions were taken.
ss. "Hatimura": This vessel arrived at Gravesend on the 14th March, from
Bombay. Three cases of Small-pox were removed from the vessel in the Port of
London. The following is the history of the cases :—
Case 1.—On the 1st March a lascar reported sick, and a rash was
noticed on his face the same day. He was at once isolated on board, as
Small-pox was suspected. On arrival of the vessel at Oran, on the 7th March,
free pratique was granted, as the case was considered to be venereal disease.
On arrival in the Port of London the patient had numerous scars on the face;
on the body there were many scars and also some small crusts. There was one
vaccination mark on each arm. Date of vaccination not known. This was
a mild case of Small-pox, modified by vaccination.
Case 2.—On the 10th March another native seaman was taken ill with
fever, pain in back and limbs, and headache. He was immediately isolated,
and a rash appeared on 13th March. On arrival he had the typical eruption
of Small-pox. He showed indistinct marks of vaccination. This case proved
to be a severe hæmorrhagic type of Small-pox, and died on 20th March.
Action taken.—The two patients were removed to the Port Sanitarv
Hospital. All the crew were vaccinated. The 25 members of the deck crew
were removed to hospital and there bathed, and their clothing and personal
effects disinfected by steam. The infected quarters were disinfected by spraying
with strong Izal solution, followed by fumigation with Sulphur Dioxide. The
names and addresses of the white crew who left the ship were forwarded
to the Medical Officers of Health concerned.
Case 3.—On the 16th March, while the vessel was in dock, a native
scullion was discovered with a rash on forehead and wrists. He was immediately
removed to the Port Sanitary Hospital. This was a mild case of Small-pox,
modified by vaccination.
The vessel left London for Hull on the 19th March, and the Medical Officer of
that Port was informed of the circumstances.