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January, 1955.
To The Worshipful
The Port of London Health Committee,
Gentlemen,
In July of this year your Worshipful Committee did me the honour of appointing me your
Medical Officer and I submit herewith my first Annual Report as Medical Officer of Health of
the Port of London.
A letter from the Secretary, Ministry of Health, dated 18th October, 1954, contained a
reminder that the Medical Officer of Health should prepare his Annual Report for 1954 on the
lines indicated in Form Port 20 enclosed with Circular 33/52 of the 6th November, 1952, adapted
as may be necessary to the special needs of the Administration of the London Port Health
District.
Para. 5 of Form Port 20 reads as follows:—"The information required by Sections I, V, VI,
VIII, XIV, XV and XVI, which has been given in an earlier Report and has not since changed,
need not be repeated every year. A recapitulation of all information should be made in the
Reports for the years 1952 and 1955 and thereafter quinquennially. For the intermediate years,
only the changes which have occurred during the year covered by the Report need be mentioned
in those Sections; if there is no change, 'No Change' should be entered." This Report has
been prepared accordingly."
Tonnage. The tonnage of vessels entering the Port of London during 1954 was 33,789,022
tons as compared with 33,392,667 tons during 1953. Thirteen thousand three hundred and
twelve vessels arrived from foreign ports and of these, 1,766 were visited by your Medical Officers
(Table B).
Communicable Diseases. Five hundred and thirty-five cases of notifiable and other
infectious diseases (including malaria) were reported as having occurred on 156 vessels during
the voyage, of which 126 cases were landed in the Port (Table D).
Sixty-two cases, particulars of which are given in Appendix II (6) were admitted to the
Denton Isolation Hospital.
Fumigations. One hundred and forty-two vessels were either fumigated, trapped or poisonbaited
for rodent destruction and the issue of International Certificates under the supervision of
your Inspectors. Forty-one vessels were fumigated using hydrogen cyanide and resulted in the
recovery of 532 rats and 565 mice. The remaining 101 vessels were subjected to various methods
of poisoning and trapping in 92 of which '1080' was used, resulting in the destruction of 1,287
rats and 216 mice.
Rodents. A total of 5,584 rats were destroyed and their bodies recovered during the course
of the year, 2,309 in ships and 3,275 on shore premises in the Port (Table E). In addition
5,081 mice were destroyed, 808 in ships and 4,237 on shore premises. Twenty-one rats were
examined for plague with negative results.
Water Barges. Fourteen water barges were in use during the year. The annual registration
of these craft by the Port of London Authority is made conditional upon a report of your
Officers as to the fitness of the barges for carrying drinking water as also upon the purity of the
water thus carried.
Houseboats. The routine inspection of houseboats was continued throughout the year and
is the subject of a separate report. (See page 14.)
Imported Foods. The total amount of foodstuffs seized and condemned as unfit for human
consumption and either reconditioned or disposed of for animal feeding or for industrial purposes
under guarantee or destroyed outright either by burning or burying was 3,849 tons 19 cwts. 0 qrs.
16 lbs. as compared with 3,574 tons in 1953 and 2,203 tons in 1952.
Shellfish. Action taken under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations is reported on
page 14.
Instruction of D.P.H. and D.I.H. Classes and Visitors to the Port. A detailed account
appears on page 21 of this Report.
Your Medical Officer wishes to record his appreciation of the collaboration and assistance
rendered by Officers of Her Majesty's Customs, of the Port of London Authority, of the Shipping
Federation, by the Pilots and members of the Staffs of Shipping Companies and Merchants in
every aspect of the work of the Port Health Authority throughout the year.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. GREENWOOD WILSON.
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