London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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TABLE B
| Ships from | Number | Tonnage | Number Inspected | Number of ships reported as having, or having had during the voyage infectious disease on board. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By the Port Medical Officer | By the Port Health Inspector | ||||
TABLE C
| Passenger Traffic | Number of Passengers — Inwards | ||
| Number of Passengers —Outwards | |||
| Cargo Traffic | Principal Imports | [ All types of produce and I merchandise. | |
| Principal Exports | |||
| Principal Ports from which ships arrive. The Port of London trades with all parts of the world. | |||
SECTION IV- INLAND BARGE TRAFFIC
Numbers and tonnage using the district and places served by the traffic.
These barges are of all types and are registered annually with the Port of London Authority.
They number approximately 7,000 and their tonnage is some 500,000 tons.
The traffic of these crafts extends throughout the length of the Port while a number of them
are employed carrying goods and merchandise via the canals to all parts of the country.
SECTION V-WATER SUPPLY
1. Source of supply for—
(a) The District — No Change
(b) Shipping — No Change
2. Reports of tests for contamination — No Change
3. Precautions taken against contamination of hydrants and hosepipes — No Change
4. Number and sanitary condition of water boats and powers of control by the Authority —
There were fourteen water boats working in the Port during the year. Water boats are'registered
annually by the Port of London Authority and such registration is made conditional upon
the report of the Medical Officer of Health of the Port as to the fitness of the craft for the
carriage of drinking water as also upon the purity of the water thus carried. To this end sampling
is carried out from time to time.
THE SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER TO SHIPS
A pure drinking water supply is a prerequisite of good health and it is difficult to imagine
any circumstances of human society where this is more significant than that aboard ship, particularly
while at sea. Palatability is a desirable quality, correct physical properties another, but
probably the most important is the freedom from organisms of disease. This factor has not always
been taken into proper account and such ignorance must have been responsible for much discomfort
and outbreaks of gastric disorders among crews and passengers alike.
There are, of course, certain safeguards provided in Regulations implemented by the Ministry
of Transport which relate to the supply, storage and chlorinating of drinking water. There is
also a responsibility upon the Port Health Authority to ensure as far as practicable that the
drinking water supply aboard ship is not prejudicial to good health and the commitment is undertaken
conscientiously by the Port Health Inspectors. In addition to health enquiries and other
observations appertaining to the quality of the drinking water when inspecting ships on arrival,
the purity of water supplied to the ships while in the Port is also taken into account and samples
of the water are drawn systematically and frequently for bacteriological examination. The frequency
is regulated according to necessity and expedience.
Drinking water as supplied to ships in the Port of London is derived from the Metropolitan
Water Board and the Essex Water Board mains. It is conveyed to the ship through a hose directly
from hydrants on the dock quay or indirectly from registered water-boats. Experience has proved
that, apart from any exceptional mishap, there is no quarrel concerning the high standard of these
supplies to the main hydrants. It follows, therefore, that the Inspectors are chiefly concerned
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