Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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FERTILISERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT, 1926
FERTILISERS AND FEEDING STUFFS REGULATIONS, 1955
Fifteen samples of Feeding Stuffs were submitted to the Agricultural Analyst.
In each case the sample was found to be within the limits of variation permissible under the
Regulations.
VISITORS AND STUDENTS
Qualified medical men and public health inspectors from abroad continue to visit the Authority
for varying periods to obtain theoretical and practical instruction in Port Health work. The
year 1960 was a particularly active one in this respect and visitors were received from many
areas, including Belgium, Bermuda, Chile, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel,
Indonesia, Kenya, Malta, Nigeria, Poland, South Africa, Sudan, Venezuela, Western Germany and
Yugoslavia.
The greater part of the instructional work inevitably falls upon the Chief Port Health
Inspector and the staff of Port Health Inspectors and Rodent Officers, as well as the Boarding
Medical Officers. Though this tuitional work must certainly add to the weight of their normal
duties, there is no doubt that it helps to widen the outlook of our own staff and to remind them
that public health work is not merely local but both national and international. We like to feel
that when our visitors return home, they carry with them not only increased knowledge but an
earnest desire to employ, and even to improve upon, the practices adopted in the Port of London.
Among the students who came to us for training in rodent destruction methods was the
Health Superintendent of the Takoradi Port Health Authority. Here he learned the use of Sodium
Fluoroacetate ('1080') which he subsequently initiated in his own port, and a photograph sent by
him showing the numerous rats killed in his first '1080' operation is reproduced elsewhere in
this Report.
The Port Health Authority is occasionally asked by Government Departments and Local
Authorities to give additional training to public health inspectors who are about to undertake
port health duties in various ports of the United Kingdom and overseas. Such requests are always
acceded to and these Inspectors are given a thorough insight into our organisation. That such
help is appreciated is shown by quoting just two letters received :
(1) "Now that I have returned to Ireland after my World Health Organisation Fellowship in
England, I must take this early opportunity of writing to thank you for the arrangements you
made for me both at the Guildhall and at the Royal Group of Docks. I need hardly say that I
gathered a considerable amount of knowledge and information from the visit and that I also
found your staff meeting on the 25th ultimo a very stimulating occasion. Beyond all this,
however, I would like to pay tribute to the kindness with which I was received and the
trouble to which you and your staff went to ensure the success of my visit. I am deeply
grateful for this and hope that if at any time I can reciprocate in any way, you will not
hesitate to ask."
(2) "I have now finished my course of training with your Authority, and I feel that I must
write and thank you for your help and assistance during the last five weeks.
My visits were instructive and interesting and I found all your staff eager to help in
every way. I am very grateful to them for so freely imparting to me their wealth of knowledge
and experience.
I am sure that the ideas I have obtained will be of great assistance to roe in my future
work."
UNITED KINGDOM COMMITTEE FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION
This Committee, which has the support of the Ministry of Health, is a national committee
representing most of the leading universities and professional organisations of the country. Its
main object is to publicise the work of the World Health Organisation.
In April 1960, as part of the effort to celebrate World Health Day, the Committee held an
Exhibition at Charing Cross Station which was seen by many thousands of the general public.
Among the exhibits provided by the Port Health Authority were copies of the London Declaration
of Health and Surveillance Cards, as well as photographs of port health work.
LAUNCH SERVICES
The four launches have continued their functions with unabated regularity and efficiency
except for one incident when, during November, the "Howard Deighton" developed a propulsion
defect. It was necessary to conduct an underwater survey on a slipway: this revealed that the
starboard propeller locking-pin had failed and allowed the propeller to slacken precariously.
The tail shaft taper having suffered accordingly, it was expedient to fit a new tail shaft and
properly secure the propeller. Advantage was taken of the short service dislocation to clean and
paint the hull. Meanwhile the Boarding Medical Officers were served by the "Alfred Roach".
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