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No case of human or rat plague occurred during the year on any vessel bound
for London.
Fumigations.One hundred and three vessels were either fumigated, trapped or
poison baited for rodent destruction and the issue of International Certificates
under the supervision of your Inspectors. One hundred vessels were fumigated
using hydrogen cyanide and resulted in the recovery of 1,240 rats and 292 mice.
Poisoning on vessels accounted for 20 rats and 104 mice. (Table "H").
Rodent. A Total of 9,574 rats were destroyed and their bodies recovered during
the course of the year, l794 in ships and 7780 on shore premises in the Port.
In addition 3,750 mice were destroyed, 395 in ships and 3,355 on shore premises.
(Tables "E" & "F") .
Of the 137 rats examined bacteriologically, 40 were from vessels and 97 from
shore premises. No rat was reported to be infected with plague. (Tables "E" & "H")
Psittacidae. The work under the Parrots (Prohibition of Import) Regulations,1930,
still in operation, is reported on page 27.
Water Barges. Thirteen 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 as also upon the purity of the water thus carried.
House Boats. The new House Boat Byelaws are still in draft form.
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 outright either by burying or
burning was 2,561 tons as compared with 1,711 tons during 1949 and 937 tons during
1948 (See page 22 ), a somewhat alarming increase.
Shellfish. Action taken under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations, 1934
is reported on page 28.
Instruction of D.P.H. and D.I.H. classes in Port Health Work.
Postgraduate 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 again paid visits to one or other of the
Dock Groups and were given practical demonstrations of the day to day work of the
Port Health Services on the River and in the Docks.
Your Medical Officer wishes to take this opportunity of thanking the Officers
of His Majesty's Customs, 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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