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(2) The patient's bedding and effects and the bedding of his three ex-cabin mates were taken off
by launch to Denton Hospital for disinfection. In view of the doubt about a firm diagnosis
of smallpox, permission was given for the ship's laundry to go through the usual channels.
(3) Pratique had already been given on the advice of your Medical Officer soon after his boarding
the ship, and the passengers were allowed to disembark as soon as they had received their
landing cards from the Immigration Officers. The crew were allowed to disperse as soon as
they had completed their muster.
(4) Whilst passengers and crew were mustering in connection with surveillance procedure, they
were also observed by your Medical Officers for any evidence of illness and none was seen.
(5) Between Le Havre and London the entire ship's company except those in possession of
International Vaccination Certificates not more than six months old, were re-vaccinated, but
there were three "conscientious objectors". The Ship's Surgeon had already re-vaccinated
210 of those passengers who landed at Le Havre. (Thirty-five Customs' Officers employed
at Tilbury were also vaccinated by Dr. J.A. Jones).
On return to head office the various surveillance cards were sorted out into districts and
sent on to the Medical Officers of Health concerned, with a circular letter reporting the nature of
the incident, and stating that although through our own Ministry of Health the French Ministry of
Health had been requested for any further particulars, no reply had at that time been received.
Towards the end of the day a reply was received through our Ministry of Health from France confirming
the hospitalisation at Le Havre of a clinically suspected smallpox case which had not
then been confirmed by laboratory tests, but further details were promised later. By 20th May still
no details as promised had been received from France through our Ministry of Health.
In the end the Liverpool Public Health Department (in whose area several of the crew were
staying) sent a telegram to the Le Havre Port Health Authority, and had in reply a report of negative
laboratory tests on the suspected smallpox case. (The Public Health Laboratory at Colindale
can get these tests through in 72 hours).
This was on 20th May, and as Liverpool were good enough to let your Medical Officer know
of it, he at once sent out a circular throughout the country to all the Medical Officers of Health
concerned, and also telephoned Medical Officers of Health of all Metropolitan Boroughs.
This same information obtainable "officially" by the Liverpool Public Health Department
had also been obtained "unofficially" by the Cunard Line City office from their agents at Le
Havre on 19th May.
The nature of the clinical details, as recounted by the Ship's Surgeon, showed an extraordinarily
complicated case, the true diagnosis of which is still in doubt, and it is readily understandable
that the five French doctors who examined the patient at Le Havre should have played
for safety in a provisional diagnosis of smallpox.
(d) Team Work
It was a privilege to witness the team work on board the "Ivernia" and the exercise of the
spirit of co-operation between the members of the ship's company from the Captain downwards,
the representatives of Cunard Head Office, the Immigration Officers, Customs Officers and your
own Port Health staff, as well as the Officers of the Port of London Authority. The smoothness
with which the arrangements proceeded could only have occurred on a ship that is "happy" in the
best sense of that word, and your Medical Officer wrote to the Cunard Head Office accordingly.
The ability shown by the Ship's surgeon was also outstanding, and that opinion was expressed to
the Medical Superintendent of the Cunard Line (this happens to be a Dr. Cadman, who in the early
days of his career served with the Port of London Health Authority). It is this type of Ship's
Surgeon who would be so helpful to us when more and more ships become equipped with radiotelephony
by which we hope to be able to talk to them as they enter the Port of London, with a
view to making decisions in advance as to their disposal from the port health point of view.
One of the "Ivernia" passengers, a distinguished Canadian doctor, wrote as follows
"In notifying you of a temporary change of address I wish to express my admiration as a
medical man, of the way things were handled in the case of the suspicion of a case of smallpox
on the "Ivernia".
Both the Ship's Surgeon, Dr. Brown, and the Sisters worked hard and cheerfully with
little if any rest, and their organisation for vaccination was most efficient.
I feel that the control of World Health through epidemics is efficient and in good hands."
s.s. "INDIA TRADER" - CHICKENPOX (? SMALLPOX)
The s.s. "India Trader", which left Calcutta on the 21st January 1959, arrived at Gravesend
on the 2nd March and was boarded by Dr. J.A. Jones. On enquiry he learned that a native seaman
had reported sick on the 4th February with a high temperature and spots on the face and abdomen.
The man, who had signed on in Calcutta on the 16th lanuary, had been vaccinated in infancy
and again in November 1958. The patient had been isolated at once in the ship's hospital, his
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