View report page

In addition to the above the party included the Civil Defence Training Officer and a number of
Industrial Civil Defence Officers representing firms like Messrs. Unilever Ltd., Messrs. MacFisheries
Ltd., The British Petroleum Co. Ltd., Messrs. Shell Petroleum Co., and a number of
Insurance Companies.
At the Army School of Health there was in attendance the Chief Instructor of the Civil Defence
Staff College at Sunningdale who took an active part in the discussions which, like the lectures
and demonstrations, were of absorbing interest.
The morning session was devoted to a study of Civil Defence Administration with a discussion
on how this might be improved, especially from the health point of view and from the aspect of
making full use of public health experts in coping with the after results of nuclear warfare.
In the afternoon there was a brilliant talk on the science and effects of nuclear fission and a
demonstration of monitoring for radiation hazards. The only note of comfort in the whole day's
proceedings was the information that radiation contamination of foodstuffs is easily prevented (by
almost any form of waterproof covering) and easily cured by stripping off the surface layers of
contaminated foods. A far more difficult problem is with water supplies where some of the radioactive
dust from the "fall out" after an explosion of nuclear warfare remains in a state of solution
in the water upon which it falls, or as the "Lancet" aptly captioned an editorial on the subject,
"Not a Drop to Drink"! It was reported that after the last hydrogen bomb test, 7,000 square miles
of sea were found to be infiltrated with strontium in quantities three times the amount to which
man ought normally to be exposed during the whole of his lifetime.
There is also the factor that even if a man escapes radiation sickness from his exposure to
radiation hazards there are still racial effects in genetics leading to disturbances in the rate of
mutations of the various hereditary qualities which could result in the birth of increased numbers
of persons suffering from defects and abnormalities of various kinds. This, however, is a subject
which still requires much more scientific research before a final assessment can be given.
VISITORS AND STUDENTS
The activities of the Port Health Authority continue to be of much interest to visitors from
overseas engaged in public health administration and during the year nine visitors from Germany,
Singapore, Spain, Trinidad, and the U.S.A., were, at the request of the Ministry of Health, Colonial
Office, British Council and other Departments, shown various branches of port health work in
London.
Facilities were also provided for students of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, the Royal Institute of Public Health, the Army School of Health and the National
College of Food Technology, to see aspects of port health work relating to their studies.
Three Officers of other port health authorities in this country and four Naval Officers were
also given training in rodent control work and the inspection of ships for the issue of deratting
and deratting exemption certificates.
LAUNCHES AND STATION HULKS
This may well by the last occasion on which operational reference will be made to the
"UPLEES", the hulk or converted sailing barge that has been the launches' mooring station at
Greenwich for eleven years.
In early August the sale was completed and the launches proceeded to the new station on the
Woolwich Harbour Service Pier. This pier affords safe inboard berths and is accessible from the
shore through the Woolwich Dockyard.
Among the advantages at the new 'Woolwich Station' are electricity and drinking water supplies,
telephone, deckhouse accommodation for office and stores and official supervision of launches at
night and public holidays. In addition, the change and the amenities at the Woolwich Pier have
marked what may be considered as an advancement in the Port Health administration as well as
cementing even closer relations with the Port of London Authority and other River Services.
The transfer from Greenwich to Woolwich affected the normal routine of inspection, but satisfactory
arrangements have been made to supplement the services of the "ALFRED ROBERTSON"
by making use of public transport when expedient and re-arranging rodent control activities
supported by the "FREDERICK WHITTINGHAM". In fact, the operational disadvantages to one
launch have been balanced by the advantages to the other.
During the year an extensive overhaul was carried out on the "HOWARD DEIGHTON". The
defect list was comprehensive and included three main items. The engines were given a complete
refit, the afterpeak bulkhead reconstructed and counteraction taken to deal with the effects
of galvanic action on the propeller shafts and stern plating.
Apart from the temporary dislocation of the normal launch services due to this refitting programme,
nothing has affected the continuous and efficient performance of the launches.
The condition of shell plating below waterline of the "HYGEIA" is to be investigated in the
coming year and it is anticipated that some overhauling of other launches will be necessary to
arrest deterioration and maintain efficiency.
39