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but having had no rash on his face, he had escaped detection previously. He was
removed to the Port Sanitary Hospital, Denton, for bathing and disinfection, and
was returned to the ship three days later.
The crew were kept under daily observation while the ship was in dock, and on
18/3/81 a Lascar developed typical Chicken-pox. He was removed to Denton Hospital.
The crew's quarters were fumigated with Sulphur Dioxide and sprayed with
Izal solution.
On 14/3/31 the ship sailed for Rotterdam, the Medical Officer of Health of that
port being notified of the circumstances by letter.
Observations.— The crew joined the ship at Chittagong, having been sent thither
from Calcutta. It appears that the first case was infected before joining the ship.
It is probable that he had the eruption about a week before he was diagnosed, and
that he infected the two cases landed at Suez and the convalescent one discovered
on arrival in London.
The case which developed while the ship was in Tilbury Dock was infected by
the " missed" case.
ss. " City of Hong Kong."—A letter was received from the Ministry of Health
on 25th March, enclosing a copy of a telegram from the Quarantine Board, Alexandria,
to the effect that the ss. " City of Hong Kong " had landed four cases of Small-pox
at Suez on 21st March. The vessel arrived off Gravesend on 4th April, 1931, and
was boarded by Dr. Cadman.
Movements of Vessel.— Arrived. Left.
Calcutta . . — 2/3/31
Madras . . 5/3/31 7/3/31
Colombo . . 9/3/31 9/3/31
Port Sudan .. 18/3/31 19/3/31
Suez .. .. 21/3/31 21/3/31
Port Said . . 22/3/31 22/3/31
Malta .. .. 26/3/31 26/3/31
London . . 4/4/31 —
Number of Persons on Board.— Passengers, 135. Crew : 33 European, 115 natives.
(Surgeon on board.)
History of Cases.— 1st Case: The vessel left Calcutta on 2/3/31, and on 6/3/31
a Lascar, Bussore Ali, was observed, during the daily muster by the Surgeon, to
have a "pustular" eruption. The doctor stripped the man in hospital and made
a diagnosis of Small-pox. This diagnosis was confirmed by the Health Authorities
ashore at Madras, and the patient was removed to hospital. The patient's bunk
was washed down with a carbolic solution, but no other disinfection was carried out.
The patient's effects were taken ashore with him.
2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Cases: The Medical Officer at Colombo, at which port
the vessel arrived on 9/3/31, passed the ship, but on 20/3/31, while at sea, the Surgeon
detected four fresh cases during his daily routine inspection. These patients, all
natives, were immediately isolated in the ship's hospital with their effects, and their
bunks were washed down. The Surgeon commenced vaccination of the crew. On
arrival at Suez, 21/3/31, the patients, with their effects, were taken to hospital ashore
and their quarters disinfected by the Port Health Authorities. Here the vaccination
of the crew was completed, and the Surgeon subsequently vaccinated as many
passengers as would submit to the operation.
6th Case: On 24/3/31 another Lascar developed the eruption and was at once
placed in hospital on board. On 26/3/31 the patient was seen by the Medical Officer
at Malta and removed, with his effects, to hospital ashore as a case of Small-pox.
Here the crew's quarters were again sprayed with a disinfectant.