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5th and 6th Cases.— On 31/1/31, 16 days after the occurrence of the first case,
another native fireman and the native donkeyman Avere taken ill and isolated in the
ship's hospital. On 9/2/31 these two cases Avere seen by the Port Medical Officer at
Suez, who diagnosed Small-pox and removed them to hospital ashore. The Avhole
ship's company Avere vaccinated and the creAv's quarters and hospital Avere disinfected.
7th Case.—On 15/2/31, 16 days after the occurrence of the second group of
cases, a native trimmer was taken ill and Avas landed to hospital at Algiers as a case
of Small-pox.
Action on Arrival in London.—All on board were carefully examined and their
condition as regards vaccination recorded. The four original cases Avere inspected
and the distribution of the scars of the eruption appeared to confirm the diagnosis
of Chicken-pox made at Madras. As vaccination had been carried out at Suez and
disinfection at Suez and Algiers, no further measures of this nature Avere taken.
The creAv remained on board with the exception of tAvo, whose names £ind addresses
Avere duly notified to the Medical Officers of Health of the districts to Avhich they
proceeded. The rest of the crew were medically inspected daily Avhile the vessel
remained in the Port of London, but no further case developed. She sailed for
Rotterdam on 2/8/31, and the Medical Officer of Health of that port was advised of
all the circumstances by letter.
It appears probable that the first four cases were infected before joining the
ship, that the fifth and sixth cases Avere infected from the first four, and the seventh
from the fifth and sixth. If so, then all the cases Avere of the same nature. The
account of the disease given by the Master and the inspection of the men who had
rejoined the ship suggest that the cases Avere all Chicken-pox.
ss. "Clan Buchanan."— A letter Avas received from the Ministry of Health
on 25/2/31, enclosing a copy of a telegram from the Quarantine Board of Egypt, to
the effect that the ss. "Clan Buchanan" had landed tAvo cases of Small-pox at Suez
on 23/2/31. The vessel arrived off Gravesend at 8.5 p.m., on 10/3/31.
Movements of Vessel.—Chittagong 25/1/31.
Yizagapatam 31/1/31.
Madras 4/2/31.
Galle 8/2/31.
Colombo 9/2/31.
Tuticorin 11/2/31.
Suez 23/2/31.
Port Said 24/2/31.
Algiers 3/3/31.
Number of Persons on Board.— Passengers, nil. Crew : 14 Europeans, 57 natives.
(No surgeon on board.)
History of Cases.—1st Case : On arrival of the vessel at Colombo, on 9/2/31,
a Lascar Avas discovered to have a rash. He Avas seen by a doctor, Avho diagnosed
Varicella and sent him to hospital ashore. The infected quarters Avere Avashed doAvn
Avith a carbolic solution.
2nd and 3rd Cases : On 17/2/31 tAvo more natives, a fireman and the donkeyman,
were found to have an eruption on the face and trunk, a few spots being present on
the legs, but none on the arms. They had a slight rise of temperature, but no other
constitutional symptoms. Both Avere isolated on board until the ship's arrival at
Suez, on 23/2/31, when they Avere examined by the Port Medical Officer of Health,
who told the Captain that they were probably suffering from Chicken-pox, but Avould
be taken to hospital for observation. The infected quarters Avere disinfected by
spraying Avith a disinfectant solution.
Action on Arrival in London.— All on board Avere closely inspected and their
vaccinal state recorded. During this inspection Dr. Cadman discovered a "missed
case," a native fireman Avho presented the scars and a few remaining crusts of the
eruption of Chicken-pox. It appears that this case belonged to the second group,