London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
This page requires JavaScript
SECTION II
AMOUNT OF SHIPPING ENTERING THE DISTRICT DURING THE YEAR
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 | 37,191 | 72,416,479 | 1,466 | 13,038 | 149 |
| Coastwise | 20,428 | 20,654,700 | 6 | 2,155 | 6 |
| Total | 57,619 | 93,071,179 | 1,472 | 15,193 | 155 |
TABLE C
| Passenger Traffic | Number of Passengers — Inwards | 97.959 | |
| Number of Passengers — Outwards | 97,773 | ||
| 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 craft 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.
The bacteriological examinations of fresh water samples has continued to be carried out
by St. Andrew's Hospital, Bow, for the dock areas and River districts on the North bank and by
the Devonport Pathological Laboratory, Greenwich, for the dock areas and River districts on the
South bank, while the Public Health Laboratory at Maidstone has continued to examine samples
from the Medway area.
There was only one incident during the year of a contaminated hydrant and delivery hose
supplying a vessel with impure water. On receipt of a telephone message from the laboratory
indicating heavy faecal contamination found on the examination of a routine sample of water,
preventative measures were immediately taken to isolate the affected hydrant and prohibit further
use. The only vessel supplied from the hydrant was promptly advised at sea through the Owners
and chlorination of the ship's fresh water storage and supplies were carried out in accordance
with instructions contained in the 'Shipmaster's Medical Guide.' The hydrant pit, water meter,
hoses and all equipment in the water trolley involved in the occurrence were thoroughly cleansed
and sterilised by chlorination. Subsequent samples drawn from the hydrant and equipment were
found to be pure and permission was given to resume water operations.
7