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From October there was a weekly despatch of oysters to Paris, some 30,000 at a time, all
duly graded as to size and suitably packed in baskets of 100 oysters each. Each batch was accompanied
by a Certificate of Purity from the Port of London Health Authority in whose very
extended district this Export Drive has taken place.
SECTION XV
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF ALIENS AND COMMONWEALTH IMMIGRANTS
1. List of Medical Inspectors holding warrants of appointment on 31st December, 1964:—
Dr. W.G. Swann, Dr. W.T. Rougier Chapman, Dr. G.W. Aston, Dr. P.J. Roden,
Dr. D.T. Jones, Dr. R.M. Best, Dr. W.D.L. Smith, Dr. A.J. Fairrie, Dr. H. Willoughby,
Dr. J.A. Jones, Dr. Marion Ravell, Dr. C.D. MacCarthy, Dr. A.W. Hagger,
Dr. R.G. Dewhurst, Dr. R.G.W. Moore, Dr. A.G. Rickenback, Dr. D.J. Avery,
Dr. B. Dalton, Dr. J. Oakley, Dr. P.R. Browne, Dr. J.C. Wishart, Dr. M.J. Catton,
Dr. W. Stott, Dr. J.F. Lown, Dr. R.N. Herson, Dr. W.T.G. Boul, Dr. W.E. Hutchinson,
Dr. G.B. Smart.
2. List of other staff engaged on the work:—
Clerical staff at the central office.
3. Organisation of the work:—
Aliens and Commonwealth Immigrants are medically examined, at the request of an Immigration
Officer of the Home Office, on arrival in the Port by the Medical Inspector, who is either the
Boarding Medical Officer or a part-time Medical Inspector called in to deal with a particular ship.
A 24 hour a day boarding service is maintained at Gravesend. Since the inception of the Commonwealth
Immigrants Act the larger passenger ships have been boarded at Ports of call prior to their
arrival in London, i.e. Brixham or Le Havre.
4. Alien Arrivals.
(a) Total number of arriving ships carrying aliens 3,168
(b) Total number of aliens —
(i) arriving at the port -32,915
(ii) medically examined 82
(c) Certificates issued Nil.
Commonwealth Immigrants Arrivals
Commonwealth citizens subject to control 13,562
Commonwealth citizens examined 670
Certificates issues 2
Ships boarded by members of the panel of doctors
Le Havre 1
Brixham 16
London 62
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5. Medical examination of aliens and commonwealth immigrants is carried out on board ship. Where
necessary Red Cross nurses are engaged as chaperons.
SECTION XVI
MISCELLANEOUS
Arrangements for the burial on shore of persons who have died on board ship from infectious
disease. No change.
SCORPION INFESTED TIMBER CARGO
The advice of this Authority's Officers was sought on the possible danger to cargo handlers
arising from a type of insect found among the timber cargo on board a ship in the West India Dock.
On examination of a specimen it was found to be an Indian scorpion of approximately 3" in
length.
A thorough search of the vessel was made and the cargo handlers were questioned about the
possible extent of the infestation. Several scorpions of varying size and colour had been seen and
killed and it was decided that spraying with a heavy Pyretheum based insecticide should be undertaken
whilst the discharge of the cargo took place. This resulted in further scorpions being killed.
A live specimen was sent to the London Zoo who stated that it was a fine specimen of Indian
female scorpion of which they had only one other specimen.
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