London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1957

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]

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January, 1958
TO THE WORSHIPFUL
THE PORT AND CITY OF LONDON HEALTH COMMITTEE
Gentle men,
I have the honour to submit my Annual Report for the year ending the 31st December, 1957, as
Medical Officer of Health of the Port of London.
A letter from the Secretary, Ministry of Health, dated the 11th November, 1957, contained a
reminder that the Medical Officer of Health should prepare his Annual Report on the lines indicated
in Form 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 and XVI, which has been given in an earlier report and has not since changed,
need not be repeated each 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.
The following is a summary of the principal items mentioned in this Report:—
Shipping. The tonnage of vessels (Fore ign and Coastwise) entering the Port of London during
1957 was 36,810,935 tons as compared with 35,894,117 tons during 1956. 15,415 vessels arrived
from foreign ports and of these 1,822 were boarded by your Medical Officers.
Communicable Diseases. 1,470 cases of notifiable and other infectious diseases were reported
as having occurred on 248 vessels during the year, of which 563 cases were dealt with in
the Port. The year was particularly notable for the high incidence of Asian Influenza.
Rodent Control. During the year a total of 4,863 rats, 2,372 in ships and 2,491 on shore
premises, were destroyed in the Port of London. Sixty-four rats were examined for plague during
the year with negative results. The inspection of lighters for rodents was continued with very
satisfactory results.
International Deratting and Derailing Exemption Certificates. The number of Deratting
Certificates issued was 138, the method of deratting in 103 instances being "1080". 1,071
Deratting Exemption Certificates were granted.
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 burying or burning was 3,409 tons 6 cwts 3 qrs
14 lbs as compared with 3,992 tons 0 cwts 3 qrs 6 lbs in 1956.
Shellfish. A new Order was made under the Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations, 1934 controlling
the collection of shellfish from the foreshore between Garrison Point, Sheerness, and
Warden Point, Isle of Sheppey, Kent.
It is with the greatest regret that I have to record the death during the year of Mr. A.J.C.
Lickorish, F.R.I.C., who was the Public Analyst to the Authority for 27 years.
Mr. J.A. Gillis, Senior Clerk, retired on 31st December, 1957 after nearly 44 years service in
the Department.
I wish to record my appreciation of the collaboration and assistance rendered by Her Majesty's
Customs, the Port of London Authority, the Shipping Federation, the Pilots, members of the
staffs of Shipping Companies and Merchants, the staff of the Central Public Health Laboratory,
the staff of the Port Health Authority, and indeed all those who have so willingly and generously
helped me 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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