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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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section ii
TABLE B
| Ships from | Number | Net 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 | ||||
| Foreign Ports | 17,156 | 35,665,096 | 1,688 | 12,615 | 144 |
| Coastwise | 10,629 | 10,602,736 | 5 | 1,678 | 5 |
| Total | 27,785 | 46,267,832 | 1,693 | 14,293 | 149 |
section iii
CHARACTER OF SHIPPING AND TRADE DURING THE YEAR
TABLE C
| Passenger Traffic | Number of Passengers — Inwards | 89,685 | |
| Number of Passengers — Outwards | 100,100 | ||
| Cargo Traffic | Principal Imports | All types of produce and 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.
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 conditions of water boats and powers of control by the Authority — No Cha nge.
Strict supervision has continued during the year and there has been no untoward occurrence
involving the quality of the supply. There is a growing awareness among those engaged in
handling the equipment and connecting the supply from hydrant to ship that drinking water is a
precious commodity worthy of the highest respect and there is a growing adherence to the "Code
of Practice" agreed between the purveyors and this Authority.
Many more samples have been taken this year and the results indicate a high standard of
quality. The owners of waterboats have continued to pay attention to hygiene in the conduct of
their business and leave little to be desired in the storage and distribution of drinking water to
ships.
Attention has also been given to the two Deep Wells in the Sheerness Dockyard which has
been vacated by the Admiralty and is used to a limited extent for merchant shipping.
From the records of sampling and testing there is reason for growing satisfaction and both
seafarers and dockworkers are assured of a clean and wholesome drinking water supply.
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