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4.
5, Church Passage ,
Guildhall, E.C.2.
January, 1940.
TO THE WORSHIPFUL
THE PORT OF LONDON HEALTH COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report as
Medical Officer of Health of the Port of London.
Circular 1937 of the Ministry of Health dated 11th
January, 1940, requests that "having regard to the desirability
of reducing the number of records to be kept and of avoiding as
far as possible the disclosure of information relating to the
movements of ships, the Minister desires that the requirements
set out in Memo.204-/S.A. shall be modified during the period of
emergency: the letterpress of the report should consist of short
notes on any points of special interest".
During the year 1 ,470 vessels were boarded and inspected
by your Medical officers and 11,417 by your Inspectors.
Infectious Disease was reported as having occurred
during the voyage on 233 vessels, the total number of cases being
383, of which 216 were landed in the Port.
The following cases of infectious disease occurred in
the Training Ships moored in the River:- Chickenpox 5; Scarlet
Fever 7; Measles 9; Diphtheria 1 and Mumps 11.
Three cases of Diphtheria occurred on a Houseboat moored
in the district.
One hundred and seven cases, particulars of which are
given in Appendix II, were admitted to your Hospital at Denton.
No case of human plague occurred during the year on any
vessel bound for London.
Of the 2,099 rats examined bacteriologically, 790 were
from ships and 1,309 were from shore premises. No rats were
reported to be infected with Plague.
The Parrots (Prohibition of Import) Regulations, 1930,
continued in operation and the work done thereunder is reported
on page 9.
Ninety vessels were fumigated for rat destruction under
the supervision of your Inspectors; 33 by sulphur dioxide resulting
in the destruction of 501 rats and 32 mice; 56 by hydrogen
cyanide accounting for 64-3 rats and 527 mice and 1 by a
combination of both hydrogen cyanide and sulphur dioxide resulting
in the destruction of 39 rats, a total of 1,74-2 rodents.
In addition 1,750 rats were trapped in ships and 4, 164
on shore in the port.
Intimation Notices were served in respect of 52 cases