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January, 1956.
To The worshipful
The port of London health Committee,
gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the year ending 31st December, 1955, as
Medical Officer of Health of the Port of London.
Circular No. 16/55, dated 18th October, 1955, from the Secretary, Ministry of Health, contained
a reminder that the Medical Officer of Health should prepare his Annual Report for 1955
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.
Paragraph 5 of F,orm 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 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".
In accordance with this directive this Report has been prepared recapitulating all the information
required by the sections referred to above.
Tonnage. The tonnage of vessels entering the Port of London during 1955 was 35,114,943
tons as compared with 33,789,022 tons during 1954. Fifteen thousand four hundred and fifty-two
vessels arrived from foreign ports and of these 1,874 were visited by your Medical Officers.
(Table B).
Communicable Diseases. Four hundred and eighty-four cases of notifiable and other infectious
diseases (including malaria) were reported as having occurred on 217 vessels during the
voyage, of which 130 were landed in the Port. (Table D).
Fumigations. One hundred and fifty-six vessels were either fumigated, trapped or poison
baited for rodent destruction and the issue of International Certificates under the supervision of
your Inspectors. Twenty-eight vessels were fumigated using hydrogen cyanide and resulted in
the recovery of 499 rats and 381 mice. One vessel was fumigated using sulphur dioxide from
which 9 rats were recovered. The remaining 127 vessels were subjected to various methods of
poisoning and trapping in 119 of which '1080' was used, resulting in the destruction of 1,769rats
and 576 mice.
Rodents. A total of 5,717 rats were destroyed and their bodies recovered during the course of
the year, 3,205 in ships and 2,512 on shore premises in the Port. (Table E). In addition 4,639
mice were destroyed, 803 in ships and 3,836 on shore premises. Forty-three rats were examined
for plague with negative results.
Water Barges. Thirteen water barges were in use during the year. The annual registration of
these craft by the Port of London Authority is made conditionally 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 28).
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 5,048 tons 12 cwts. 0 qrs.
23 lbs., as compared with 3,849 tons in 1954 and 3,574 tons in 1953.
Shellfish. The routine inspection of shellfish under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations
was continued throughout the year.
Instruction of D.P.H. and D.I.H. Classes and Visitors to the R)rt. A detailed account appears
on page 32 of this Report.
Your Medical Officer wishes to record his appreciation of the collaboration and assistance
rendered by Her Majesty's Customs, the Port of London Authority, the Shipping Federation, by
the Pilots, members of the staffs of Shipping Companies and Merchants and the staff of the
Central Public Health Laboratory, 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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