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The number of water barges in use in the Port remained at 12. As heretofore, the
registration of these craft by the Port of London Authority was made conditional
upon the report of your Officers as to the fitness of the barges for the carriage of
drinking water. These arrangements continued to work smoothly.
No action of any importance was taken to apply the existing Houseboat Bye-laws
to the houseboats coming within the jurisdiction of the Port Health Authority, for
the reason that the Bye-laws are under revision, and new draft Bye-laws are in course
of preparation.
The situation as regards the houseboats moored in the various creeks—their
grouping, the sanitary and hygienic condition of the majority of them and generally
the impossibility of effecting a reasonable control—is nothing less than deplorable,
and it is hoped that the coming into force of new and more suitable Bye-laws capable
of being properly and impartially administered to the benefit of all concerned, will not
be long delayed.
A new launch, the "Alfred Robertson" was taken into commission in May, and
has given very satisfactory service, as have also the two other launches of the Authority,
the " Howard Deighton "and the" Frederick Whittingham."
The crisis of last September necessitated the urgent protection of Denton Hospital
against air raids, and the preparation of a scheme of air-raid precautions for the Port
Health Services. The details of the work carried out at Denton Hospital and of the
joint scheme of air-raid precautions with the Port of London Authority are given on
pages 57-60 of this Report, and in Appendix XXX.
During the year 7,508 tons of foodstuffs were condemned as unfit for human
consumption and were either destroyed or disposed of for industrial purposes under
guarantee.
The proportion of carcases of mutton examined for Caseous Lymphadenitis
remained at five per cent. throughout the year, while pieces of mutton continued to be
subjected to 100 per cent. examination. Evidence of this disease was found in only
19 of the 26,782 carcases examined by your Inspectors. A proportion of frozen
ox-tongues imported from South America was examined on arrival, the percentage
found to be affected with Actinobacillosis being 0.72.
Special attention continued to be paid during the year under review to the
inspection of canned foodstuffs for metallic contamination. The analyses showed a
reduction in the number of consignments of sardines containing lead and in the quantity
of lead present. Many consignments of canned tomatoes and tomato products
continued to contain an excessive amount of copper, though here again the total
number of consignments containing copper and the quantity of that metal has shown a
very satisfactory reduction. Following consultations with the Ministry of Health a
memorandum was prepared by that Department to serve as a basis for the practical
application by Port Health and other Authorities of the Regulations concerning
metallic contamination. The Memorandum suggested that a content of not more
than 50 parts of copper or copper compounds per million of the dried contents should
be adopted on and after 1st January, 1940, and that in the meantime proportions in
excess of that figure up to 100 parts should indicate the sending of a warning to the
importers, while an excess of 100 parts should result in the seizure of the goods.
No complaints were received during the year as to pollution of the River by
sewage discharged from the Northern and Southern Outfalls.
I have pleasure in recording that all grades of your Staff carried out their duties
in an entirely satisfactory manner.
The health work of so large a Port could not be carried out efficiently without the
co-operation of the Officers of H.M. Customs and of the Port of London Authority,
the Pilots and the Members of the Staffs of the Shipping Companies and Merchants
whose assistance and courtesy are gratefully acknowledged.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
M. T. MORGAN.