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Arrangements have gone forward for the building of another
launch to work in co-operation with the "Howard Deighton" and it is
hoped that the building of this launch will be commenced early in
1948.
Since the opening of the Hospital the motor road ambulance
has done invaluable service in the speedy removal of cases of
infectious diseases, particularly from vessel lying in the London
Docks.
(f) Supervision of contacts -
The method of dealing with contacts who are leaving a ship
has been (described on page 1 6.
Arrangements for the Bacteriological or Pathological Examination of
Rats.
The bacteriological examination of rats for plague is
carried out in the laboratories of the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich.
Specimens of rats caught in shore premises or killed on
board ship by fumigation are collected by the Rodent Officers and
conveyed to the Seamen's Hospital in special tin boxes.
Each rat has attached to its hind leg a small label on
which is written a letter combination indicating the dock where the
rat was obtained and a number. In the case of a ship rat, the name
of the ship. The daily returns of the Rodent Officers indicate
clearly this letter-number combination, with a further note showing
exactly where and how each rat was obtained.
Should a rat be found to be plague infected the laboratory
would at once notify the Medical Officer, quoting the letter and
number on the label attached to the rat in question and a reference to
the Rodent Officer's report would indicate exactly where plague
preventive measures should be instituted.
Arrangements made for other Bacteriological and Pathological
Examinations.
All bacteriological and pathological examinations are
carried out at the laboratories of the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich.
Arrangements for the diagnosis and treatment of Venereal Diseases
among Sailors, under International arrangements.
The Venereal Diseases are not compulsorily notifiable but
efforts are made to bring to the notice of all seamen using the Port
the facilities for free treatment under the Brussels Agreement.
When the Medical Officers board ships on arrival they always
snquire whether there are any cases of venereal disease on board and
should there be a case the infected person's attention is drawn to the
importance of obtaining skilled treatment as soon as possible and to
acquaint him with the situation of the Clinic nearest the ship's berth
and the time at which cases may attend.
Similarly the Sanitary Inspectors have a supply of pamphlets
listing the names and addresses of places of treatment together with
the days and times such treatment is available and in addition the
Port Health Authority has printed this notice in 21 different
languages and these notices are pasted up st vantage points
throughout the whole dock area.
Arrangements for the interment of the dead.
When cases of infectious disease die in the Port Health
Hospital, arrangements for interment are made with an Undertaker in
Gravesend.
(17)