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Action on arrival of the ship
1. The vessel arrived in Gravesend Reach at 11.45 a.m. on Sunday, 28th February, 1960, and
was boarded by your Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Boul and other members of the Port Health
Authority Staff.
2. A brief conference was held in the Surgeon's cabin at which the case history was confirmed.
3. The patient was examined and it was confirmed that the case was undoubtedly one of
Chickenpox.
Dr. Boul in his report to the Ministry of Health stated :
"I formed the opinion that the patient had suffered from Varicella, although in the early
stages some of the papules were undoubtedly suggestive (especially one on the right ear)..."
4. In view of this diagnosis the ship was accordingly given the "all clear" and allowed to
proceed to Tilbury Landing Stage. (The Ship's Captain expressed his thanks personally for the
quick clearance).
5. After the disembarkation of passengers was completed, the patient, togetherwith his bedding,
was transferred by launch to Denton Hospital. The disinfection of the Ship's Hospital was carried
out on the following day when the vessel berthed in Tilbury Dock.
Confirmation of Diagnosis
The result of the clinical examination of the patient was confirmed by the fact that the
specimens sent by the Ship's Surgeon to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, proved
negative to Smallpox.
Conclusion
Although the suspicion of Smallpox was never really present in the minds of any of the
doctors concerned, (except perhaps the Ship's Surgeon in the earlier stages of the illness — he
told roe that he had never seen a case of Smallpox!), I considered the arrangements made for the
reception of the case to be well worth while as a kind of "mobilisation" exercise.
SUSPECTED SMALLPOX - m.v. "SUGAR PRODUCER"
First Information
On the 11th March, 1960, Silvertown Services telephoned the Hulk "Hygeia" and informed
Dr. J.A. Jones, First Assistant Medical Officer, that the Master of the m.v. "Sugar Producer"
had reported by radio that an Arab Member of the crew was suffering from "probable modified
smallpox".
The movements of the ship were as follows
London Sailed 10th February
Trinidad Arrived 25th February sailed 28th February
Barbados Called 29th February to land a case of appendicitis
The ship was due at Gravesend at noon on Sunday, 13th March, and would be anchoring there
for twelve hours before proceeding to Plaistow Wharf, to discharge. The crew of 33, including 4
Arabs, would be paying off in London, but 16 were rejoining.
Dr. Jones requested Silvertown Services to try and obtain the following additional information
: Date of onset: Date of last vaccination: and clinical details, the exact information
required being explained in lay terms as the ship did not carry a Surgeon. Silvertown Services
agreed to try and contact the Master of the Ship and instruct him to call the Hulk "Hygeia"
direct by radio, although it was unlikely this could be done before the afternoon of Saturday,
12th March.
Preparations
On receipt of this information your Medical Officer decided, in view of the small crew and
favourable time factors, to call out a minimum of staff.
Dr. Pickford Marsden, Medical Superintendent of Joyce Green Hospital, was advised of the
case. He agreed to "alert" Long Reach Smallpox Hospital and also accepted your Medical
Officer's invitation to act as Ministry of Health Smallpox Consultant. Colindale Laboratory
were informed that specimens might be sent for examination and they agreed to receive them on
Sunday afternoon if necessary. Surveillance cards, vaccination kit, lymph, gowns and overalls
were checked and held in readiness on the "Hygeia".
Second Information
On Saturday, 12th March, the "Sugar Producer" radioed additional information, which was
subsequently amplified in a radio-telephone conversation between Dr. D.T. Jones, the Duty
Medical Officer on the "Hygeia", and the Master of the ship, as follows:
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