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The ml. "Howard Deighton" is available for the transport of cases of infectious
disease within the Port.
The Boarding Medical Officers always make enquiries in regard to the occurrence
of Venereal disease on vessels they board, and give advice as to when and where
treatment is obtainable.
Handbills showing where free treatment can be obtained by seamen suffering
from Venereal disease are distributed on vessels.
The Port Sanitary Authority do not provide a clinic, but there are clinics at
Sheerness, Rochester, Southend, Gravesend, Faversbam, Dartford, Royal Albert and
Victoria Dock, Greenwich and London.
Bacteriological examination of rats is carried out at the laboratories of the
Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, under the direction of Professor Hewlett. These
laboratories are equipped with every modern appliance, and, if Plague is suspected,
rats can be examined at any time of the day.
Other bacteriological examinations are now also carried out at the above
laboratories.
INTERNATIONAL SANITARY CONVENTION, 1926.
Ship-borne Infections.
When a vessel is found, on arrival in a port in the United Kingdom, to be an
"infected" or "suspected" ship, and subsequently proceeds to another United
Kingdom port, it is the practice of the Medical Officer of Health of the first port to
notify to the Medical Officer of Health of the second port, particulars of the
circumstances and of the sanitary measures which have been applied.
The Minister of Health, in Circular 1,171, expressed the opinion that such an
interchange of information between ports in this country and foreign ports would
be in accordance with the spirit of the International Sanitary Convention, and suggested
that the Port Sanitary Authority should instruct their Medical Officer of Health that,
when the next port of call of a vessel, which is an infected or suspected ship, or has
a case of Small-pox or Typhus on board, lies between Brest and the River Elbe, he
should communicate directly with the Medical Officer of Health of such port, sending
a copy of his message to the Ministry. If the next port of call is beyond the Brest—
River Elbe area, the communication should be sent direct to the Ministry, who would
take any necessary further action. Messages should be sent in time to arrive at the
next port of call before the vessel, and may therefore be sent by letter or telegram,
as is necessary.
In the Circular were given specimen messages and also the official designations
and addresses of the Medical Officers of Health of the principal ports between Brest
and the River Elbe.
This suggestion was adopted by the Port of London Sanitary Authority, and
during the year messages were sent to:—
Medical Officer of Health, Dundee, in respect of Small-pox on board
ss. " Matheran."
Medical Officer of Health, Dundee, in respect of Small-pox on board ss. " Matra."
Medical Officer of Health, Rotterdam, in respect of Chicken-pox and Small-pox
on board ss. "Clan MacTaggart."
Medical Officer of Health, Rotterdam, in respect of Chicken-pox and Small-pox
on board ss. "Clan Buchanan."
Medical Officer of Health, Dundee, in respect of Small-pox on board ss. "City
of Hong Kong."