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Mr. Dring, the Port Health Inspector for the area, first conducted the party
to the Port of London Authority Industrial Canteen were the Manager, after
shewing them round the Canteen, explained the experiment which was being carried
out in this Dock area, whereby one member from a "gang" of ship workers
collected, in special containers provided by the P.L.A., the food and drink
requirements of his "gang" and conveyed them to the ship, as opposed to the former
practice of the men leaving the ship to visit either cafes in the vicinity or the
P.L.A. Mobile Canteens. This arrangement was becoming increasingly popular and
saved a lot of "man hours".
The party then proceeded to a shed where another experiment was being
carried out, namely, the opportunity for dock workers to arrive at the Docks
in their normal everyday clothing and then change into clothing suitable for their
work on the Docks. Similarly at the end of the working day they could return to the
shed, wash and, if so inclined, take a shower bath, before donning their everyday
clothing and proceeding home. This too was gradually becoming more and more
popular, particularly with dockers handling dirty cargoes.
While in this shed, Mr. Dring went very fully into the reasons for
and the methods adopted in the examination of vessels for the issue of Deratisation
and Deratisation Exemption Certificates and the methods of trapping, poisoning etc.,
in vessels and shore premises in his area.
The party then proceeded to the s.s. "Ashanti Palm". This vessel's
certificate had just expired and the vessel was going to be examined by the Rodent
Officers to determine the type of certificate to be issued.
After a further talk on board the ship, each of the Delegates was given
a Rodent Officer's Report Form, and accompanied by a Rodent Officer, half
proceeded to Nos. 1 & 2 Holds and the other half to Nos. 3 & 4 Holds, which they
themselves examined for rat evidence, harbourage, etc., recording on the report forms
provided their findings in each hold.
They then returned to the saloon where the two parties made known their
findings and were unanimous in deciding that on the evidence seen in the holds,
this vessel should be fumigated and a Deratisation Certificate issued. This
decision was confirmed by Mr. Dring and the Rodent Officers.
After lunch in a P.L.A. Industrial Canteen, the party proceeded to
Eastern Granary, Millwall Dock. In this Warehouse a "1080" operation was being
carried out. The day previous to the visit a number of poison points had been laid
on each of the six floors of the warehouse.
The party entered the top floor of the warehouse and worked downwards
making a superficial search for rats, i.e., without removing any of the piles of
bagged grain. Twenty-seven dead rats were picked up.
The party then saw the arrangements that had been made for tunnelling and
baiting with "1080" the stacks of grain stored in the open on the dock quays,
after which they saw and discussed a pre-baiting operation, using Zinc Phosphide,
in a warehouse on the Millwall Dock.
Wednesday, 25th April, 1951.
The Delegates proceeded to Gravesend where they were met by Dr. Willoughby
and proceeded via the m.l. "ALFRED ROACH" to the Isolation Hospital at Denton.
During the trip and while at the Hospital Dr. Willoughby explained in
detail the boarding and medical inspection of vessels arriving from 'foreign' for
the prevention of the importation of infectious diseases, with special reference
to plague and smallpox, and the issuing of 'free pratique'.
The party visited the Hospital, inspecting the Cubicle Block, Smallpox
Block, Disinfecting Station and Washington Lyons apparatus and the Sewage Plant,
On the way back to Gravesend the attention of the party was called to
the Tilbury Landing Stage and Customs Baggage Warehouse and Dr. Willoughby explained
the facilities available and the action taken in the medical inspection of Aliens.
The party lunched at the Royal Clarendon Hotel and since the majority wished to
visit their Banks to change Travellers cheques the remainder of the day was
placed at their disposal.
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