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in the Royal Albert Dock Hospital pending his repatriation to China, and he was
accordingly removed from the vessel at Shell Haven to the Royal Albert Dock Hospital
in the motor launch " James Howell."
The case appeared to be an early one, the symptoms having first been noticed
in December, 1929. He was isolated on board, and the Director of Public Health
at Emmastad, in Curacao, had prescribed the precautions to be taken during the
voyage. The necessary disinfection of quarters and effects was carried out by your
Sanitary Inspector after the removal of the patient.
After considerable difficulty and delay the patient Avas repatriated to China.
V.—MEASURES AGAINST RODENTS.
(1) Steps taken for the detection of rodent Plague:—
The Port Sanitary Authority employs six rat-searchers.
Each rat-searcher has his OAvn district, corresponding to the district of a Sanitary
Inspector, under whose guidance he works. A rat-searcher's first duty is the
examination of such ships in his district as are due for inspection under Article 28 of
the International Sanitary Convention relative to the granting of Deratisation and
Deratisation Exemption Certificates. His second duty is to visit ships arriving in
his district from Plague-infected ports, to search for dead rats and, if possible, to
obtain specimens of live rats trapped on board. He is required to re-visit such vessels
daily during the discharge of cargo, to ascertain whether dead rats have been found
in the holds. The existence of rodent Plague on board any vessel in the Port should
thus be detected at the earliest possible moment.
The rat-searcher's third duty is the examination of shore premises for signs of
rat infestation or rat Plague, paying particular attention to premises adjoining the
berths of Vessels from Plague-infected ports. The Avhole of the Dock area is
systematically and regularly inspected, and specimens of the shore rat population in
all parts of the Port are regularly examined bacteriologicallv, so that, in the rare
event of Plague infection being communicated to the rats on shore, it should be
quickly detected and stamped out before it has spread extensively. Moreover, when
rat-infestation of premises is reported, the responsible persons are required to take
energetic measures of rat-destruction, for rat Plague will spread rapidly in a rat-infested
area, Avhereas Avhere rats are few it may never spread at all. It is of the greatest
importance, not only from the public health, but also from the commercial point of
vieAv*, that the Port of London should be kept free from rat Plague.
Bacteriological Examination of Rats.—Owing to the fact that the Port of London
is so extensive, it is not easy to arrange for rats to be conveyed to a suitable
bacteriological laboratory. The new laboratories at the Seamen's Hospital,
GreenAvich, are most conveniently situated, and there is a Staff of skilled bacteriologists
under the direction of Professor Hewvlett. Rat-searchers collect rats from ships and
shore premises in their district each day. They tie to one leg of each rat a small
label, on which is a letter combination indicating the Dock where the rat Avas obtained
(thus R.A.D. indicates Royal Albert Dock, S.C.D. Surrey Commercial Dock, &c.) and
a number. In their daily report sheets the rat-searchers enter each letter-number
combination, with notes opposite shoAving exactly Where and hoAv each rat was
obtained. They then place the rats in a linen bag, which they put in a tin box. At
the end of the day they deliver the tin boxes at the laboratory of the Seamen's
Hospital, GreenAvich, and receive in exchange empty bags and boxes for the next
day's rats. Rats are delivered about 5 p.m., and examined next morning. If any
rats were found Plague-infected the letters and number on the label attached Avould
be telephoned to your Medical Officer, Avho, on reference to the rat-searcher's reports,
could at once ascertain exactly Avhere such rats were obtained and institute Plague
preventive measures there. If rats are found dead under circumstances-suggesting
that they have died of Plague, they are taken at once to the laboratory, and an
immediate examination and report is requested.