London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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Table C.
Cases of Infectious Sickness landed from Vessels.
| Disease. | Number of Cases during the Year. | Number of vessels concerned. | Average Number of Cases for previous 5 years. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers. | Crew. | |||
| Small-pox | — | — | — | 1.6 |
| Scarlet Fever | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3.2 |
| Diphtheria | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6.6 |
| Enteric Fever | 2 | 17 | 10 | 1.8 |
| Measles | 4 | 7 | 10 | 5.6 |
| German Measles | 1 | — | 1 | 1.0 |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | 0.8 |
| Continued Fever | — | — | — | — |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 49 | 32 | 65 | 91.4 |
| Tuberculosis (other kinds) | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2.8 |
| Pneumonia | 3 | 9 | 12 | 11.6 |
| Influenza | — | 1 | 1 | 6.4 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | — | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Dysentery | 2 | 14 | 15 | 9.0 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | — | — | — | — |
| Malaria | 1 | 6 | 7 | 17.0 |
| Chicken-pox | 3 | 12 | 11 | 12.8 |
| Remittent or Relapsing Fever | — | — | — | - |
| Mumps | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11.0 |
| Note.—The following cases of infectious disease occurred on Training Ships moored in the Thames:— Scarlet Fever 3; Diphtheria 2; Chicken-pox 1; Mumps 1. | ||||
Table D.
Cases of Infectious Sickness occurring on Vessels during the Voyage, but
disposed of prior to arrival.
| Disease. | Number of Cases during the Year. | Number of vessels concerned. | Average Number of Cases for previous 5 years. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers. | Crew. | |||
| Cholera | — | — | — | 1.6 |
| Plague | — | — | — | 0.2 |
| Small-pox | 3 | 8 | 7 | 11.4 |
| Scarlet Fever | — | — | — | 2.4 |
| Diphtheria | 8 | — | 3 | 2.4 |
| Enteric Fever | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13.4 |
| Measles | 24 | 3 | 17 | 25.8 |
| German Measles | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5.8 |
| Erysipelas | 2 | — | 2 | 1.2 |
| Continued Fever | — | — | — | 0.2 |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 20 | 13 | 29 | 43.0 |
| Tuberculosis (other kinds) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1.0 |
| Pneumonia | 11 | 7 | 16 | 24.8 |
| Influenza | 10 | 14 | 8 | 196.8 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | — | — | — | 1.0 |
| Dysentery | 4 | 7 | 8 | 10.6 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | — | — | — | — |
| Malaria | 6 | 15 | 14 | 79.2 |
| Chicken-pox | 13 | 6 | 9 | 27.6 |
| Remittent or Relapsing Fever | — | — | — | — |
| Mumps | 2 | 1 | 3 | 130 |
Small-pox.
ss. "Pembrokeshire."—The ss. "Pembrokeshire" arrived at Gravesend on
24th January from the Par East and was boarded by Dr. H. Willoughby. It was
ascertained that a cadet, E. H. S-had developed Small-pox on 7th December, 1933,
the rash appearing on 10th December, on which date he was removed to hospital at
Hong Kong. The Port Health Authority at Hong Kong carried out all the necessary
disinfection. On the day on which the patient first sickened a new Chinese crew
had been signed on and the whole crew, both European and Chinese, had been
vaccinated in accordance with the requirements of the United States Public Health
Authorities in the Philippine Islands, whither the ship was proceeding. The cadet
had probably been infected twelve days previously in Wei-hai-wei or Cheefoo.
Vaccination on the day of onset of Small-pox could not protect him, but did protect
the other members of the crew, and no further cases occurred.