View report page

18
Action taken in London.—The vessel arrived off Gravesend at 10 a.m. on 3rd June
and was boarded by Dr. Warrack and Dr. Kidd, who obtained a history of the case
from the Ship's Surgeon and then proceeded to a careful inspection of the crew. One
native Fireman had been placed in the isolation hospital on board at Plymouth for
observation, as he had a few pustular spots on his left shoulder and back. On arrival
at Gravesend, this case was diagnosed as Acne.
None of the passengers or crew presented any signs or symptoms resembling
those of Small-pox.
All names and addresses were carefully checked with the individual passengers,
and the vaccinal state of all on board was recorded on the crew and passenger lists.
The names and addresses of the passengers and such of the crew as were leaving the
ship were posted to the Medical Officers of Health of the districts concerned at
4.30 p.m. on the day of arrival of the ship.
Disinfection having been carried out at Marseilles, no further measures of this
nature were deemed necessary. The crew remaining on board were kept under daily
observation while the ship was in this Port.
It would appear that the case was infected ashore in India, as the patient only
joined the ship on 14th May and developed the eruption on 24th May.
Sailing Barge "Blue Mermaid."—On 15th September, 1932, the Port of
London Authority Police, Royal Albert Dock, reported that on the previous evening
W. G Master of the above barge lying at No. 22 Shed, Royal Albert Dock,
was admitted to Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, suffering from "Fever."
Further enquiry revealed that the Medical Officer at the Hospital had called in
Dr. Annis, Medical Officer of Health of Greenwich, who had diagnosed Small-pox
and this had been confirmed at the London County Council Small-pox Diagnosis Station
at South Wharf.
Your Medical Officer proceeded to the barge and ascertained that the patient,
W. G aged about 52, of 4, James' Terraqe, Mistley, Essex, had been taken
ill on Monday, the 12th September, with pains in the body and general malaise. He
remained in his bunk on board on the 12th, 13th and 14th instant. On the 14th an
eruption appeared on his face and arms and he went to the Greenwich Hospital to see
a doctor, presumably travelling by Ferry.
The only other person on board the barge was the Mate N. H aged 20,
of 2, High Street, Mistley, Essex. In addition, P. L . aged 33, of 4, Priory
Place, Ipswich, had sailed the barge up from Erith, as the Master, W. G
was not well enough to do so. He had only been in contact with the patient on deck,
whereas H had attended to him in his cabin. Your Medical Officer
ascertained that PI had never been vaccinated and that L had
not been vaccinated since infancy so, with their consent, your Medical Officer
vaccinated them both immediately.
The movements of the " Blue Mermaid " were as follows:—
Arrived Victoria Dock, 25th August.
Sailed Victoria Dock, 3rd September.
Arrived Mistley, Essex, 5th September.
Sailed Mistley, Essex, 9th September.
Arrived Grays, 10th September; Erith, 12th September; Royal Albert
Dock, 14th September.
It would appear that W. G . contracted the infection while his vessel
was in the Victoria Dock between 25th August and 3rd September. There were cases
of Small-pox in West Ham about this time.