Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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produce evidence of having been successfully vaccinated within two years. The
native quarters were fumigated with Formalin and washed with a carbolic solution.
The patient's bedding was destroyed and his personal effects landed at Suez.
After the 3rd Case (Chicken-pox).—The patient was removed to hospital at
Plymouth. In London all persons on board were medically inspected and their
names and addresses obtained. These addresses were all posted to the Medical
Officers of Health of the districts of destination on the day the vessel arrived in
London.
All the Lascar contacts, 49 in number, together with their kits, were removed
by launch to Denton Hospital for bathing and steam disinfection respectively at the
new disinfecting station. During their absence from the ship their quarters were
thoroughly sprayed with Izal solution. The bathing and disinfection was completed,
and the crew returned to the ship in a little over three hours.
No extension of the infection occurred.
The ss. "Margha" from Calcutta, Madras, Colombo, Aden, Suez and Port Said
via Marseilles and Plymouth, arrived off Gravesend at 8.30 a.m. on 9th March, 1930,
and was boarded by Dr. H. Willoughby. The master reported that two cases of
Small-pox had occurred on board during the voyage.
The circumstances were as follows:—
On 2nd February a Lascar developed Small-pox and was landed to
hospital at Madras on 3rd February, where all necessary disinfection was
carried out. The patient contracted the disease ashore in Calcutta.
On 11th February a native cook developed Small-pox and was landed
to hospital at Aden on 16th February. This man could not have been
infected on board from the previous case, but must have been infected in
Calcutta a day or two before joining the ship.
Precautionary Measures.—After the first case every passenger and member of
the crew who had not been successfully vaccinated within one year was re-vaccinated.
The native quarters were washed down with Lysol solution, the bedding of the
patients was destroyed, and their personal effects were landed with them.
On arrival in the Port of London all persons on board were medically inspected
and their names and addresses' obtained. These addresses were not forwarded to
the Medical Officers of Health of districts of destination as 21 days had elapsed since
the last case was removed from the ship, and there was no evidence that any other
persons were likely to develop the disease.
The 53 contacts of the case were, however, landed, together with their kits, at
Denton Hospital. The men were all bathed and their kits disinfected by steam.
This took three hours, and no delay was occasioned to the ship.
No extension of the infection occurred.
The ss. "Maloja" arrived off Gravesend at 6.45 a.m., on 21st March, from
Australian ports, via Bombay, Aden, Suez, Port Said, Marseilles and Plymouth.
She was boarded by Dr. Cadman, who ascertained the following particulars regarding
a Goanese steward landed at Suez on 9th March.
This man joined the ship at Bombay on 1st March. On 6th March he reported
to the ship's surgeon with fever and a discreet papular eruption, principally on
the face, but also on the trunk and limbs. Small-pox was diagnosed and the case
was landed to hospital at Suez. Infection must have been contracted ashore before
the man joined the ship.