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To The Worshipful
January, 1957
the port and city of london health committee
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the year ending 31st December, 1956, 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 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 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
Report 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 in accordance with the above directive.
Tonnage. The tonnage of vessels entering the Port of London during 1956 was 35,894,117
tons as compared with 35,114,943 tons during 1955. Fifteen thousand and twenty vessels arrived
from foreign ports and of these 1,714 were visited by your Medical Officers. (Table B).
Communicable Diseases. Three hundred and twenty-two cases of notifiable and other infectious
diseases (including malaria) were reported as having occurred on 209 vessels during the
voyage, of which 148 were landed in the Port. (Table D).
Fumigations. One hundred and fifty-five 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 581 rats and 457 mice. The remaining 127 vessels were subjected to poisoning
in 121 of which "1080" was used resulting in the destruction of 1,197 rats and 450 mice.
Rodents. A total of 4,928 rats were destroyed and their bodies recovered during the course of
the year, 2,655 in ships and 2,273 on shore premises in the Port. (Table E). In addition 6,120
mice were destroyed, 810 in ships and 5,310 on shore premises. Fifty-six rats were examined
for plague with negative results.
Water Barges. Thirteen 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 (see
page 34).
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 3,992 tons 0 cwts 3 qrs
6 lbs, as compared with 5,048 tons in 1955 and 3,849 tons in 1954.
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 Port. A detailed account appears
on page 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, the
Emergency Bed Service, by the Pilots, members of the staffs of Shipping Companies and Merchants
and the staffs of the Central Public Health and Dreadnought Seamens Hospital Laboratories,
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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