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 xiii INSPECTION OF SHIPS FOR NUISANCES
TABLE G
| Inspections and Notices | No. of Vessels |
|---|---|
| Number of vessels visited by Port Health Inspectors | 15,411 |
| Number of vessels on which sanitary defects were found, and details reported to the Master, Owners and/or Ministry of Transport | 732 |
| Number of Statutory Notices served | Nil |
| Number of vessels on which sanitary defects were remedied | 724 |
| Summary of Structural and other Defects | |
| Inadequate ventilation | 3 |
| Defective Lighting — natural | - |
| Do. Do. — artificial | — |
| Defective or Insufficient Heating | 4 |
| Condensation | 5 |
| Leaking Decks | 13 |
| Leaking Ports, Decklights, etc | 14 |
| Leaking Sideplates | 2 |
| Leaking Hawse or Chain Pipes | 1 |
| Defective or Obstructed Floor Drainage | 15 |
| Water lodging on top of Peak Tanks | — |
| Defective Bulkheads | 7 |
| Do. Floors | 29 |
| Do. Doors | 4 |
| Do. Chain Pipes | - |
| Do. Bunks | 1 |
| Do. Clothes Lockers | — |
| Do. Food Lockers | 5 |
| Do. Food Storage | 25 |
| Do. Cooking Arrangements | 32 |
| Defective or Uncleanly Drinking Water Storage | 2 |
| Water Closets — Obsolete | 3 |
| Do. — Defective | 47 |
| Do. — Foul or Choked | 16 |
| Do. — Inadequate Flush | 7 |
| Wash Basins — Defective | 19 |
| Do. — Foul | 4 |
| Neglected Paintwork or Distemper | 48 |
| Absence of Washroom | 1 |
| Absence of Messrooms | 1 |
| Misappropriation of Crew Spaces | - |
| Verminous Quarters | 387 |
| Dirty Quarters | 537 |
| Miscellaneous | 106 |
| TOTAL | 1,338 |
section xiv
PUBLIC HEALTH (SHELLFISH) REGULATIONS, 1934
The Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations, 1934, confer powers on a local authority whereby
on receipt of a report of their Medical Officer of Health that the consumption of shellfish taken
from a laying is likely to cause danger to public health, they may make an Order prohibiting the
distribution for sale for human consumption of shellfish taken from the laying either absolutely or
subject to such exceptions and conditions as they think proper, having regard to the interests of
the public health.
Two such Orders have been made. The first in 1936, covering the public and private layings
bordering that part of the foreshore of the Estuary of the River Thames between Canvey Island
and Shoeburyness ; and the second, in 1957, covering the foreshore or waters bordering on that
part of the Estuary of the River Thames or any tributary thereof, between Garrison Point, Sheerness,
and Warden Point in the Isle of Sheppey, was made following an outbreak of Typhoid Fever at
Scrapsgate in the Isle of Sheppey. This Order enabled the display of notices in various parts of
the Scrapsgate area which, whilst bringing to notice the legal provisions of the new Order, also
helped health propaganda against the gathering of shellfish for human consumption in that area.
Unfortunately since the original outbreak four more cases have occurred, but as a result of
eating shellfish gathered for private consumption and not for sale, hence the legal powers in the
new Order could not apply.
The latest outbreak involving three cases occurred in July, and all necessary measures were
taken by the local health authorities for the isolation and treatment of patients and their contacts,
an additional notice was displayed immediately by the open end of the outfall pipe at Scrapsgate.
A proposal was discussed with local officers to re-organise entirely the system of sewage
disposal in the area, so that there would no longer be at low tide on any beach used by holidaymakers,
etc. an exposed open end of a sewer outfall pipe.
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