View report page

15
Cholera.
The ss. "Director" arrived at Gravesend on the 25th July, from Calcutta. On
the 2nd July, the second mate was taken ill while the vessel was lying at Calcutta.
The Port Medical Officer diagnosed the case as Cholera, and the patient was removed
to hospital ashore, where he was treated and discharged as cured on the
15th July. The patient rejoined the vessel on the date of sailing.
The quarters were disinfected at Calcutta, and the whole of the crew were
inoculated with anti-Cholera serum.
No other case occurred.
Small-pox.
The ss. "Ranchi" from Bombay, via Marseilles and Plymouth, arrived off
Gravesend on 14th February, 1930. Information had previously been received from
the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company that a case of Small-pox
had been landed from this vessel at Suez on 2nd February. The Boarding Medical
Officer ascertained that the case was that of a Goanese steward who joined the ship
at Bombay on 25th January, and who reported sick with a rash on 30th January.
The ship's surgeon diagnosed Small-pox, and isolated the patient until he was landed
at Suez on 2nd February. The case was a mild one, the disease being modified by
previous vaccination. Infection was probably acquired ashore in Bombay. The
ship's surgeon vaccinated all the immediate contacts and all the remainder of the
crew and passengers except those who had been successfully vaccinated within
one year.
On arrival in the Port of London all persons on board were carefully examined,
but no other case was found. The names and addresses in this country of the white
crew and the passengers were obtained and forwarded to the Medical Officers of
Health of the districts of destination, as the incubation period had not fully expired.
The personal effects and bedding of the patient were taken ashore for steam disinfection
at Denton Hospital, and the quarters which had been occupied by the case were
sprayed with disinfectant solution and fumigated with Sulphide Dioxide gas. No
spread of the infection took place.
The ss. "Mantua" from Japanese, Chinese and Indian ports via Marseilles,
Gibraltar and Plymouth, arrived off Gravesend at 9 a.m., on 7th March, 1930, and
was boarded by Dr. Warrack and Dr. Cadman.
The following particulars were obtained in regard to the occurrence of cases of
Small-pox on board, notification of which had already been received:—
1st Case.—Mr. H. G., 1st Class passenger, embarked at Shanghai on
28th January, 1930. An eruption appeared on 2nd February, and a diagnosis
of confluent Small-pox was made. He was landed to hospital at Singapore
on 6th February. He presumably contracted the infection ashore.
2nd Case.—A Lascar member of the crew, who joined the ship in
Bombay on 14th February, reported sick on 20th February with the eruption
of modified Small-pox. Apparently he was infected ashore and cannot be
connected in any way with the case of Mr. G., who had been landed at
Singapore a week before this man joined the ship. This Lascar was landed
to hospital at Suez on 23rd February.
3rd Case.—A Lascar member of the crew reported sick with an eruption
on 5th March. The vessel arrived the next day at Plymouth, where the
disease was diagnosed as Chicken-pox.
Precautionary Measures.—After the first case all persons on board were vaccinated
by the ship's surgeon, and the Port Health Authority at Singapore carried out
disinfection of the patient's effects and the quarters occupied by him.
After the second case, since the European crew had been vaccinated after the
occurrence of the first case, and the native crew had been vaccinated in Bombay
before joining, further vaccination was confined to those passengers who could not