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The average number of rats killed per fumigation was 11.8. If mice are taken
into consideration also, the average number of rodents destroyed per fumigation was
15.5. In addition, 2,467 rats were trapped in ships and 5,533 on shore in the Port.
Intimation Notices were served in respect of 32 cases of infringement of the
Bye-laws relating to Offensive Cargoes. I have made further reference to the question
on page 52.
The arrangements made with the Port of London Authority whereby the annual
re-registration of water barges is made conditional upon the satisfactory report of
your Officers as to fitness of the barges for the carriage of drinking water, continued to
work smoothly. The number of water barges remained at 12.
The Boarding Launch " Howard Deighton " has continued to give satisfactory
service. In addition to conveying the Boarding Medical Officers to vessels requiring
medical inspection on arrival, transporting cases of infectious sickness to your
Isolation Hospital, collecting from ships, bedding, &c., for disinfection, and carrying
the Sanitary Inspector on his visits to ships lying in the Lower River District, this
launch has on several occasions enabled your Officers to render assistance in cases of
sudden illness or injury occurring in ships in Gravesend Reach. First aid has been
rendered in these cases, and the patients have been landed and taken by motor
ambulance to the nearest General Hospital. During the year you authorised the
purchase of first-aid equipment, including splints, surgical dressings,sutures, tourniquet,
artery forceps, &c., which experience had shown to be necessary and which is now
always carried on the launch. At the end of the year a letter was received from the
Corporation of Trinity House, expressing appreciation of the services thus rendered
on three occasions to pilots.
The new Launch " Frederick Whittingham," which was put into commission in
November, 1934, for use of the Sanitary Inspector in the Upper River District, has
proved to be admirably suited to the work for which she was designed, and very
economical in running expenses.
The Launch James Howell," which is used by the Sanitary Inspector in the
Middle River District is now 13 years old, and it will not be possible to keep her in
service much longer. The petrol engine is worn out, and the wooden hull is not in
such condition as to make it worth while fitting a new engine. When this launch
has to be replaced it would be desirable to build a vessel of smaller dimensions than
the " Howard Deighton," but sturdy enough to take over her boarding duties at
Gravesend when she is laid up for overhaul. At present, when your boarding launch
is out of commission, the Medical Officers are taken off in the Customs launch, and the
" James Howell," which is not strong enough for boarding work, must stand by for
the removal of cases of sickness to your Isolation Hospital. The Officers of
His Majesty's Customs are most courteous and helpful, but obviously their own
duties must come first, and their launch cannot be used for the transport of cases of
infectious disease.
Last year I reported that the old Hulk " Hygeia," your Boarding Station at
Gravesend, was in a very bad condition, and that it would be a waste of money to
carry out extensive repairs. You therefore decided to purchase another hull and
fit it up as a Boarding Station. In April, 1935, you purchased a double-bowed steel
lighter from the Admiralty ; plans and specifications for fitting her to your requirements
were drawn up by your Chief Engineer, Mr. Roberts, and she has now taken the
place of the old hulk, which was sold to the Benfleet Yacht Club.
Further improvements have been carried out at your Hospital at Denton.
The Nurses' Home has been re-built; a new laundry has been erected ; a new
gardeners' store and a new incinerator have been provided and, by the generosity of
the Corporation of the City of London, the grounds have been greatly improved.
The inspection of imported food is an important part of the work of the Port
Sanitary Authority, and during 1935, 2,368 tons of foodstuffs were condemned as unfit
for human consumption, and were either destroyed or disposed of for industrial
purposes.