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Previous Information.
At 9.50 a.m., on 3rd August, Dr. I. J. Corbett, the Medical Superintendent of the Peninsular
and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, telephoned that the s.s. "Strathmore", which was
due to arrive at Gravesend on Friday, 6th August, reported having a suspected case of smallpox
on board in the person of a child passenger-Z..M..-aged 8 years who had embarked at Aden
on the 24th July, 1954.
Dr. Corbett also reported that specimens taken from the pustules and vesicles had been
landed at Marseilles on the 1st August and had arrived at the Central Public Health Laboratory,
Colindale, on the morning of the 3rd August. He understood that the result of the complement
fixation test should be available on the 4th August and the egg culture test, the following day,
5th August.
Subsequently Dr. Corbett reported by telephone that a further signal had been received
from the Surgeon of the s.s. "Strathmore", as follows:-
"Further case of suspected smallpox-repeat smallpox-P..G.., male, aged 7, embarked
Bombay 20.7.54".
Having ascertained that the s.s. "Strathmore" was due to arrive at Brixham at approximately
3.0 p.m., on Thursday, 5th August, your Medical Officer immediately made arrangements
to proceed to Brixham on Wednesday evening, 4th August, with your Chief Inspector, three
members of the Office staff as well as Dr. Corbett and Dr. H. S. Banks, a Ministry of Health
Smallpox Consultant attached to the Park Hospital, Hither Green. All were vaccinated before
boarding the s.s. "Strathmore".
Action taken at Brixham.
Your Medical Officer made a point of meeting the Immigration Officers who would be dealing
with the vessel and arranged with them that, in the event of the diagnosis of suspected smallpox
being confirmed, they would co-operate with your Medical Officer in organising a muster of the
ship's company who would all be medically inspected and dealt with by your staff before passing
on to the Immigration Officers.
Action taken on arrival of the vessel off Brixham.
Your Medical Officer embarked at 4.0 p.m., on 5th August in company with Dr. H. S.
Banks, the Smallpox Consultant, Dr. I. J. Corbett, the Medical Superintendent of the P. & 0.
Company, the Immigration Officers, the Channel Pilot, the baggage Clerks and members of your
staff, and immediately arranged a medical consultation between the visiting doctors and the
two Ship's Surgeons concerning the two doubtful cases who then received a thorough medical
examination.
History of Cases.
Case 1. The history of the first case as reported by the Ship's Surgeon was as follows:-
"Z..M.., aged 8, embarked at Aden on 24.7.54. He was in possession of a vaccination
certificate dated June, 1953 and his father stated that he was re-vaccinated in February, 1954.
31.7.54. Seen by Ship's Surgeon and was found to have a small crop of vesicles extending from
the upper lip to the brow; no others seen then or subsequently. Appeared two days previouslypatient
afebrile-number of vesicles 10. Some were umbilicating. He was re-vaccinated at
once as were his parents and he was taken straight to the ship's isolation hospital where specimens
were taken from pustules and vesicles for laboratory tests. One set was given to the Health
Department at Marseilles and a second set was air-mailed from Marseilles to the Central Public
Health Laboratory at Colindale.
1.8.54. Afebrile still-seen by Dr. Lemberg, Senior Port Health Officer, Marseilles who was
guarded in his diagnosis but agreed with keeping the family in quarantine and vaccinating
everyone on board. No more vesicles.
2.8.54. Vesicles commencing to dry up.
4.8.54. Vesicles drying up.
5.8.54. Vesicles dry and vanishing."
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