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No case of human plague occurred during the year on any vessel bound for
London.
Fumigations. One hundred and fifty three vessels were fumigated for rodent destruction
and the issue of International Certificates under the supervision of
your Inspectors, of which 152 were fumigated with hydrogen cyanide resulting in
the recovery of 3,012 rats and 598 mice and one by sulphur dioxide accounting for
53 rats. (see Table 'II').
Rodents. A total of 7,310 rats were destroyed and their bodies recovered during
the course of the year, 3,921 in ships and 3 ,3 89 on shore premises in the Port.
In addition 2,174 mice were destroyed, 595 in ships and 1,579 on shore premises
(see page 13 and Tables E & F).
Of the 1,086 rats examined bacteriologically, 750 were from vessels and 336
from shore premises. No rat was reported to be infected with plague. (see
Tables E & F) .
Psittacidae. The work under the Parrots (Prohibition of Import) Regulations,
1930, still in operation, is reported on page 21.
Water Barges. Fifteen water barges were in use during the year. The registration
of these craft by the Port of London Authority is made conditional upon
the report of your Officers as to the fitness of the barges for the carriage
of drinking water. These arrangements worked smoothly. (see page 6)
House Boats. The new House Boat Bye laws are still in draft form. Objections
are still being received and during the year several conferences were held at
which discussions took place between the interested parties, (see page 21)
Imported Foods. The total amount of foodstuffs seized and condemned for human
consumption and either reconditioned or disposed of for animal consumption or
for industrial purposes under guarantee or destroyed was 93 7 tons as compared
with 1,094 tons during the previous year. See page 16.
Launches. The Authority's Launch m.v. "ALFRED ROACH" built by Messrs. John I.
Thornycroft & Co. Ltd., at their works at Hampton, -was named on the 21st July,
1948, at an appropriate ceremony by Mrs. D.E. Eriebach, wife of the Deputy
Chairman of the Port Health Committee. After satisfactory trials the launch
was subsequently handed over to the Authority on the 1st October, 1948 and at
once put into commission on the lower reaches of the River. She has, so far,
given every satisfaction and it is no exaggeration to say that she has been
the subject of many highly complimentary remarks by those, working on the River
who are competent to judge of her good qualities. A report by Mr. T.L. Mackie,
the Authority's Supervisory Engineer, on her construction, equipment and
performance is to be found on pages 8,9 & 10 of this Report.
Instruction of P.P.H. and D.I.H. classes in Port Health work.
Arrangements have continued during tho year for giving practical instruction
to Post-Graduate Students of the Royal Institute of Public Health and the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine taking their course for the
Diploma in Public Health and in Industrial Hygiene, The students have paid
visits to one or other of the Dock groups and have been given practical
demonstrations of the day to day work of the Port Health Services on the River
and Docks.
Your Medical Officer wishes to take this opportunity of thanking the
Officers of His Majesty's Custowas, of the Port of London Authority, the Pilots
and members of the staffs of the Shipping Companies and Merchants for their
collaboration and assistance in every aspect of the work of the Port Health
Authority throughout the year.
Your Medical Officer also has pleasure in reporting that all members of
your staff have carried out their duties both willingly and efficiently.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen ,
Your obedient servant,
M.T. MORGAN.
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