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derived and to make a report to the Local Authority (a Local Authority for the purposes of these
Regulations includes a Port Health Authority). The Local Authority upon consideration of the
report, and after giving all persons interested a reasonable opportunity of making representations,
may then make an Order if they are satisfied that the consumption of shellfish taken from
the layings is likely to cause danger to public health. They may further attach to an Order such
exceptions and conditions as they may think proper having regard to the interests of the public
health. This enables a Local Authority to prescribe as a condition of the. sale of shellfish for
human consumption either relaying in pure water, or sterilisation by steam, or cleansing by a
satisfactory process in an establishment approved by the Minister.
Your Medical Officer would remain your Worshipful Committee that in 1936 the Corporation of
London made such an Order under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations in respect of a considerable
part of the district of the Port Health Authority on the Essex side of the Thames
Estuary, extending roughly from Canvey Island to Shoeburyness. This Order provid; s that a
person shall not sell or expose or distribute or offer for sale or have in his possession for the
purpose of sale for human consumption any oysters, mussels or other molluscan shellfish taken
from the 'prescribed area' unless such oysters, mussels or other molluscan shellfish have been
(i) subjected to a satisfactory process of cleansing at an establishment which is for the time
being approved by the Minister of Health for this purpose; or (ii) relaid in pure water for such
period and in such place as may from time to time be approved for the purpose by the Port Health
Authority; or, (iii) subjected to a process of sterilisation by steam under pressure for at least
six minutes in an apparatus which is for the time being approved by the Port Health Authority.
It should be noted that the Regulations and likewise the Order apply only to shellfish sold or
exposed or distributed or offered for sale and do not apply to shellfish collected for personal
consumption.
No such Order was made by the Corporation of London in respect of the Kent side of the
Thames Estuary since the Ministry of Health had themselves issued the Medway (Shellfish)
Regulations, 1935, which 'prescribed' the River Medway and its tributaries; it did not, however,
include the Kent coast within the district of the Port of London Health Authority. In consequence,
the foreshore on the Kent side of the Thames Estuary is not 'prescribed' and shellfish
can in fact be collected and sold in this area without restriction. It is within this area that
Scrapsgate is situated and from which the contaminated cockles were gathered. It is understood,
moreover, that cocklers from Leigh-on-Sea are in the habit of gathering cockles from the Kent
foreshore but such cockles are in fact sterilised in accordance with the Order made by the
Corporation of London.
Your Worshipful Committee concurred with the suggestion of your Medical Officer that an
Order under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations, 1934, should be made by the Corporation
of London as the Port Health Authority of the Port of London to cover that part of the Kent foreshore
within the jurisdiction of the Port of London Health Authority which extends from Garrison
Point to Warden Point in the Isle of Sheppey and that Mr. Comptroller and City Solicitor be
instructed to consult with your Medical Officer on the matter and to take such steps as are
required for the making of an order.
SECTION XV - MEDICAL INSPECTION OF ALIENS
1. List of Medical Inspectors of Aliens holding warrants of appointment.
Dr. J. Greenwood Wilson, Dr. H.M. Willoughby, Dr. J.A. Jones, Dr. R.D. MacLean,
Dr. W.D.L. Smith
2. List of other staff engaged on the work.
Clerical staff at the Central Office.
3. Organisation of the work.
All vessels carrying aliens are intercepted on arrival atGravesend and the aliens are examined
by the Medical Inspector of Aliens who is, in fact, the Boarding Medical Officer on Duty.
Complete liaison exists between the Port Medical Staff and the Immigration Staff at Gravesend
and should any doubtful cases arrive, the Medical Inspector is immediately communicated with by
telephone and an opinion given.
4. Nature and amount of alien traffic.
(a) Total number of arriving vessels carrying aliens 1,779
(b) Total number of aliens (excluding transmigrants, seamen and airmen)
(i) Arriving at the port 29,512
(ii) Medically inspected 18,579
(iii) Medically examined 102
(c) Certificates issued 7
(d) Transmigrants landed and medically inspected Nil
5. Accommodation for medical inspection and examination is provided on Tilbury Landing
Stage, though in practice, the majority of aliens are inspected in the ship on arrival and any
necessary chaperonage is provided by nursing sisters or stewardesses borne in the ship.
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