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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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57
AIR-RAID PRECAUTIONS.
Although up to the present no duties in connection with the Air-Raid Precautions
Scheme for the Port of London have been assigned to the Port Health Authority,
there is no doubt that in the event of war all our activities would have to be carried
on, and that in addition we should have to deal with special problems arising from
ships and docks being attacked by hostile aircraft. It is quite possible that mustard
gas both in bombs and in spray would be used in attacks on the Port and even on
shipping entering the Port. It therefore seemed desirable that the Staff of the Port
Health Authority should have some training in anti-gas measures both for their own
protection and in the interests of the work of the Authority.
Through the courtesy of the General Manager of the Port of London Authority,
it was arranged that 52 volunteers from your Staff should attend a course of lectures
on Air-Raid Precautions given by the Authority's Medical Officer, Dr. T. Harris White.
STAFF.
Sanitary Inspectors.—I am pleased to report that Mr. Reginald Clifford,
one of your Sanitary Inspectors employed on Food Inspection, succeeded in passing
the final examination of the City and Guilds of London Institute in the Chemical
and Bacteriological Control of Milk and Milk Products.
DANGEROUS DRUGS.
During the year six Certificates authorising the purchase of scheduled Dangerous Drugs were issued by your Medical Officer as follows:—
| Date. 1937. | Person authorised. | Drugs specified. |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. 6 Master of ss. | "Everhope" | 4 oz. Laudanum (Tinct. Opii). |
| „ 16 Master of ss. | "Schwarzes Meer" | Tincture of Opium 50 gr. |
| April 1 Master of ss. | "Snar" | „ „ „ 4 oz. |
| Oct. 26 Master of ss. | "Utsire" | „ „ „ 3 oz. |
| Nov. 25 Master of ss. | "Betancuria" | „ 3½ oz. |
| Morphine Hydrochloride 12½ gr. | ||
| Cocaine Hydrochloride 10 gr. | ||
| Dec. 29 Master of ss. | "Thermopylae" | Medinal, 50 tabs., 7½ gr. |
These Certificates were issued under the Dangerous Drugs (No. 3) Regulations,
1923, amending the Dangerous Drugs Regulations, 1921, Regulation 15 of which is
as follows:—
"If a foreign ship in any port in Great Britain requires to obtain a supply of
any of the drugs in order to complete the necessary equipment of the ship, the Master
of the Ship is authorised to purchase and be in possession of such quantity of any of
the drugs as may be certified by the Medical Officer of Health of the Port where the
ship is (or in his absence by the Assistant Medical Officer of Health of the Port) to
be necessary for the purpose, the quantity not to exceed what is required for the
use of the ship until it next reaches its home port. The certificate given by the
Medical Officer or Assistant Medical Officer of Health of the Port shall be marked
by the supplier with the date of the supply, and shall be retained by him and kept
available for inspection."
CANAL BOATS ACTS.
In accordance with Section 249 (3) of the Public Health Act, 1936, I beg to
present herewith the Annual Report on the working of the Canal Boats Acts and
Regulations and Part X. of the Public Health Act, 1936, within the district of the
Port of London Health Authority during the year ended 31st December, 1937.
The Acts and Regulations apply within the whole district under the jurisdiction
of the Port of London Health Authority, including the River and Docks, as a "canal"
for the purposes of the Acts "includes any river, inland navigation, lake or water
being within the body of a county, whether it is or not within the ebb and flow of
the tide."