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Bronchitis 1 Influenza and Tonsillitis 2
Chickenpox 18 Malaria 4
Chickenpox (contacts) 2 Measles 2
Dermatitis 1 Miscellaneous 2
Dysentery 1 Mumps 6
Fever of Unknown Origin 1 Pneumonia 3
Food Poisoning 1 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1
Glandular Fever 1 Quinsy 1
Infectious Hepatitis 1 Salmonella Carriers 11
Influenza 13 Shingles 2
Influenza and Pneumonia 2 Tonsillitis 4
Influenza, Pneumonia and Typhoid (Convalescent) 1
Schistosomiasis 1 TOTAL 82
ANTHRAX AT KING GEORGE V. DOCK
Imported Hides, Skins and Bones from South Africa
A dock worker employed in the discharge of cargo from the s.s. "Kenya Castle" reported on
the 17th December to the Dock Medical Centre with a skin eruption. He was referred to the Royal
Albert Dock Hospital where the case was considered to be Anthrax, a diagnosis which was confirmed
later by the Dermatologist at the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich.
Immediately on receipt of this information contact was established with the Medical Section
of the Ministry of Labour and National Service, (the Department primarily concerned with industrial
diseases on shore), the National Dock Labour Board, the Port of London Authority, the
Union Castle Line and Mr. Spencer, the Port Health Inspector of the district concerned.
Full investigations were started at once and arrangements made for close co-operation with
the various organisations interested in this kind of disease. Mr. Spencer recorded the nature
and distribution of the suspected cargo and all dock workers engaged in handling the cargo were
given explicit instructions to report any symptoms of the disease.
It was agreed to treat the spaces of the ship involved and the cargo stored in the quayside
shed with a 5% solution of formaldehyde. The holds were sprayed heavily and sealed as for a
fumigation. The bales of hides lying in the shed were similarly sprayed in situ. In this connection
the knowledge and experience of the Port Health Inspector was of considerable assistance.
The treatment of the holds continued overnight and the loading of the ship proceeded normally
next morning after all parties were satisfied that appropriate measures had been concluded. The
ship left port on schedule.
In his comprehensive report, Mr. Spencer records that no further case of Anthrax came to
light and he expresses appreciation of the ready assistance shown by all officials and the
Shipping Company.
HEALTH EDUCATION
Folder on Social Services available to the Seafarer and his family
The Port of London Health Authority had under consideration for some time a suggestion
that there should be issued to ships regularly visiting the Port of London a booklet on health
education and social services. In discussions on the subject it was clear that, as the complexities
of the Welfare State are not fully understood by the average citizen, they are still less
likely to be so by the average seafarer and, least of all, by tanker crews because of the quick
turn-round of these vessels.
At the same time the difficulties of preparing a health education booklet which might appeal
to some and be rejected by others came to be realised — it was difficult to strike an average line
between the conveying of helpful information to those who wanted to know and giving the impression
of "talking down" to seafarers. These considerations are the more important in view of
the steadily rising standard of living of seafarers over a number of years past. It was therefore
decided in the first instance to limit the information to details of help that could be obtained on
a variety of problems from the Health and Welfare State in case of need.
With the kind co-operation of the Chief Officer of the Welfare Department, London County
Council, and other interested organisations, suitable information was collated for inclusion in a
folder which was printed in black and red on a suitable thin board so that it could be retained on
a ship for easy reference.
Distribution of the folders, over 3,000, has been greatly facilitated by the kindness of the
Seafarers Education Service and College of the Sea, and the British Sailors Society who arranged
for the folders to be included in the book parcels issued to ships visiting the port of London.
The Port Health Inspectors have also been issuing the folder.
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