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Subsequently on the 14th instant, exactly 14 days from the date of isolation of
the case on the "Mongolia," the Medical Officer of Health of Woolwich notified a child
in his Borough who had been a passenger on the "Mongolia" to be a definite case of
Chicken-pox, and the same day we removed a native steward from the "Mongolia"
to Denton Hospital suffering from Chicken-pox. The native was a bedroom steward,
and a contact with the original case.
On 19th March a telegram was received from the Medical Officer of Health of
Belfast to the effect that he had seen a child from the "Mongolia" whom he considered
to be suffering from Chicken-pox, but that the parents had reported to him that
Small-pox had occurred on board. He was informed that the case in the ship was
Chicken-pox.
There were no further developments.
Typhoid Fever.
The ss. "Modasa" arrived off Gravesend on 14th April, and was boarded by
Dr. Willoughby.
The Ship's Surgeon declared 11 cases of Influenza (7 passengers, 2 European
crew and 2 native crew). Of these, 9 were reported to have recovered and 2, although
not yet recovered, were considered to be fit to proceed home.
The diagnosis of Influenza was accepted, and no special action was taken.
On 19th April a notification was received from the Medical Officer of Health of
Ealing that one of the above-mentioned passengers who had proceeded to her home
in his district had been definitely diagnosed as a case of Typhoid Fever.
Your Medical Officer forthwith notified the Medical Officers of Health of the
districts to which the other passengers and crew who had suffered from Influenza
had proceeded, and also got into touch with the Seamen's Hospital in regard to a
cadet who had suffered from Influenza and who had been recommended to attend the
Hospital for the examination of his chest. This enquiry elicited the information that,
not only was this cadet suffering from Typhoid Fever, but that there were in hospital
four other similar cases from the same ship. Later, one further case was notified.
Thus 7 cases of Typhoid developed, 4 of which were included amongst the cases
notified as Influenza.
No other passengers were infected, but the incident illustrates how easy it is to
miss mild cases of Typhoid Fever, particularly in the early stages.
V.—MEASURES AGAINST RODENTS.
These were dealt with in detail in last year's Report. Your Officers continue to
recommend rat-proofing both in ships and on shore, and a great deal of useful work
has been accomplished in this direction during the year.
Mr. J. D. Hamer, F.I.C., Chief Chemist of the Orient Steam Navigation
Company, who is responsible for the fumigation of the Orient Liners, and who has
therefore much practical experience in the fumigation of large passenger ships with
Hydrogen Cyanide, has contributed the following article entitled "Some Observations
on the use of Hydrogen Cyanide as a Fumigant":-
Some Observations on the use of Cyanide as a Fumigant.
(By J. D. Hamer, F.I.C., Chief Chemist to the Orient Steam Navigation Company.)
In the early Spring of 1927, we treated a vessel at Tilbury with Cyanide.
The accommodation received a charge equivalent to 0.5 per cent. HCN. A large
number of beds and pillows were stowed in the side pockets of a' tween deck, and
received 0.5 per cent. HCN. The atmospheric conditions were cold with humidity
approaching dew-point. After eight hours' contact the ship was opened up for