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15
Cholera.
The ss. " Patroclus " arrived at Gravesend on 11/10/32, having landed two of
he native crew and one of the European crew at Kobe on 26/8/32, suffering from
Cholera. The patients were removed to the Quarantine Hospital, where they subsequently
recovered. The vessel was placed in Quarantine where it was under the
entire charge of the Quarantine Medical Staff, who carried out all the necessary
Drecautions. No other case occurred.
Small-pox.
ss. " City of Perth."—An apprentice was landed from the above vessel at
Dalny on the 29th November, 1931. All the crew were vaccinated and a new native
crew shipped at Singapore on December 18th. Thorough disinfection was carried
out at Dalny. No other case occurred.
ss. "Merkara."—Previous Information.—A letter was received from the
Ministry of Health on the 12th February, 1932, enclosing a copy of a cablegram
received from the Quarantine Board of Egypt to the effect that the ss. "Merkara"
had landed two cases of modified Small-pox at Aden on 1st February, 1932.

Number of Persons on Board.—Passengers, 52 (47 British, 5 Aliens). Crew ;
Europeans, 38; Natives, 122.
History of Cases.—Case 1.—On 29/1/32 Abdul Rahman, Steward, reported sick
with marked constitutional symptoms (headache, backache, temperature 100°) and a
rash just developing on his forehead and wrists. The Ship's Surgeon diagnosed
Small-pox, and isolated him in hospital.
Case 2.—On 1/2/32 a Lascar, Mohasan, reported sick with a similar rash, but less
marked constitutional symptoms.
The same day the vessel arrived at Aden, where the diagnosis was confirmed by
Colonel Phippson, I.M.S., and the cases were landed.
Cases 3, 4, 5 and 6—A Lascar reported sick on 16/2/32 with an eruption. On
examination of the remainder of the natives, three other cases were discovered—
one Lascar, one Fireman and one Coaltrimmer.
In all these cases the eruption was very slight, and there were practically no
constitutional symptoms. The Surgeon diagnosed modified Small-pox, and on 20/2/32
the cases were landed at Plymouth, where a diagnosis of Chicken-pox was made.
Action taken on Board.—The cases were all isolated immediately they were
detected. On the day of the discovery of the first case every soul on board was
vaccinated by the Ship's Surgeon. The crew were subsequently inspected daily.
After landing the cases at Aden the Lascar quarters were fumigated with
Formaldehyde, and sprayed out with a disinfectant solution, the bedding of the two
patients being thrown overboard. The crew's quarters were again disinfected after
the isolation of the second group of cases.