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had landed a case of Small-pox at Suez. The vessel arrived off Gravesend at 10.30 p.m.,
on 8th February, and was boarded by Dr. Cadman, who carried out a very thorough
inspection and found no secondary cases.
Movements of Vessel.—Calcutta 7/1/81.
Colombo 13/1/31.
Suez 25/1/31.
Port Said 26/1/31.
Oran 2/2/31.
Number of Persons on Board.—Passengers, nil. Crew: 17 Europeans, 77 natives.
(No surgeon on board.)
History of Case.—The patient was a Lascar—Jacoob Allee—aged 26. On 22/1/31,
i.e., 15 days after leaving Calcutta, this man reported sick with a rash on his face.
The Captain reported that the man then had spots on his face and scalp, a few on
the left side of the chest, a few on the shoulder blades, none on the abdomen, none
on the upper limbs, a few on the front and backs of the thighs and none on the legs.
There were no temperature and no predomal symptoms, and the man worked right
up to the day of appearance of the rash. The Captain suspected Small-pox and
isolated the man forthwith.
The vessel reached Suez three days later, where the Medical Officer diagnosed
the case as suspected Small-pox and had him removed to hospital ashore.
At Suez all members of the crew were vaccinated except those who could show
evidence of recent successful vaccination. The crew's quarters were disinfected
with Formalin and their bedding and effects taken ashore for steam disinfection.
Action on Arrival in London.—The crew were mustered and their names and
addresses were taken. They were carefully inspected for any evidence of Small-pox,
but nothing suspicious was discovered. Their vaccination marks were inspected and
the date of the last successful vaccination recorded, from which it appeared that all
should be adequately protected.
The vessel proceeded to Tilbury Dock and sailed for Dundee on the 10th January.
The crew remained on board except for the Fourth Engineer, who proceeded
on leave to Liverpool. The Medical Officer of Health of Liverpool was informed
of the name and address of this contact, and the Medical Officer of Health of Dundee
was sent a copy of this Report.
No further case occurred.
ss. "Matra."—The ss. "Matra" arrived off Gravesend at noon on 22/2/31, and
was boarded by Dr. Hugh Willoughby, who ascertained that three cases of Small-pox
had occurred on board during the homeward voyage.
Movements of Vessel.—Calcutta 19/1/31.
Coconada 22/1/31.
Madras 25/1/31.
Colombo 28/1/31.
Aden 4/2/31.
Suez 9/2/31.
Port Said 10/2/31.
Number of Persons on Board.—Passengers, two. Crew: 17 Europeans, 74 natives.
(No surgeon on board.)
History of Cases.—1st Case: A Lascar, aged 21, reported sick on 21/1/31, two
days out from Calcutta, with an eruption on the face, chest and back. He was
immediately isolated in the ship's hospital. The next day the ship arrived at Coconada,
where the case was diagnosed as Small-pox, but was left on board to proceed to
Madras. The native crew were all vaccinated, as were also the only two members
of the European crew who could not show signs of recent successful vaccination
No disinfection was carried out.