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The photograph of Denton Hospital appearing in this Report is reproduced through the
courtesy of the Dartford Hospital Management Committee.
DERMATITIS AFFECTING CREW AND STEVEDORES
s.s. "BECKY" OF HELSINGBORG
The s.s. "Becky" arrived in the Port of London on 16th October, 1959 from various
Mediterranean ports with a general cargo which included hides, pulses, fresh and dried fruits,
etc.land part cargo destined for other Continental ports.
Some hours after cargo had been broken and worked at Mark Brown's Wharf, some stevedores
developed a body rash and assistance was sought by the employers from the Port Health Authority.
This was on Saturday morning of the 17th October and the assistance was immediately
given. Mr. Marshall, Port Health Inspector in the Upper River District, and Mr. W.G. Stimson,
Senior Rodent Inspector, visited the ship. The Stevedores with the rash were sent to Guy's
Hospital and two of the Ship's Officers went to Seamen's Hospital for diagnosis and treatment.
An immediate search was carried out for rats and insects, the stevedores ceasing work pending
the investigation by the Port Health Authority.
On account of the remaining cargo for the Continent, a thorough fumigation was discounted
and it was decided to carry out an effective spraying of all holds the next day, Sunday. This
was done by private enterprise under the supervision of the Port Health Authority. After twelve
hours exposure the holds were ventilated and the men resumed work in all compartments, except
No.2 Hold, on Monday morning. It was in No.2 Hold that the greater infestation was found and
it was decided to satisfy completely the stevedores by giving an additional treatment in this
space.
Throughout the operation, no rats were found dead or alive and the numerous insects collected
were sorted and submitted to expert opinion at the Natural History Museum. All the insect
pests were found to be of the food parasite types and some could give rise to skin rash, but it
was concluded that the dermatitis was more probably caused by mites on fruits and lentils
stowed in No.2 Hold.
The Port Area Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was advised and
contact made with the Officer concerned after the major treatment with insecticide.
All the stevedores were working the ship on Tuesday morning and the work proceeded without
further delay. No more cases of dermatitis were reported during the time the ship was under
surveillance of the Port Health Inspector.
The whole operation was carried out to the entire satisfaction of all concerned and earned
the praise and gratitude of employers and workmen alike.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
From THE MEDICAL OFFICER, 21st August, 1909
Cholera Regulations in London Port
The magistrate at the Tower Bridge Police Court lately fined the master of the steamship
"Irkutsch" £20 and three guineas costs for wilfully neglecting to obey a notice requiring that
none of the passengers were to be allowed to leave his vessel until their addresses had been
verified and permission to disembark given in writing. Evidence showed that the vessel arrived
at Gravesend from St. Petersburg, in which city there was a serious epidemic of cholera, and the
medical officer of the Port of London Sanitary Authority served a notice on the master in accordance
with the regulations of the Local Government Board issued last August. In spite of this,
nine passengers were allowed to leave the ship before she was docked higher up the river. The
master's excuse was that he had not read the instructions which were printed in a footnote to the
notice, and he had tendered an apology. The magistrate, after commenting on the gravity of the
offence, imposed the penalty stated above.
("The Medical Officer", 21st August, 1959)
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