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 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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SECTION XIII
INSPECTION OF SHIPS FOR NUISANCES
TABLE G
| Inspection and Notices | No. of Vessels |
|---|---|
| Number of vessels visited by Port Health Inspectors | 14,675 |
| Number of vessels on which sanitary defects were found, and details reported to the Master, Owners and/or Ministry of Transport | 207 |
| Number Statutory Notices served | NIL |
| Number of Vessels on which sanitary defects were remedied | 487 |
| Summary of Structural and other Defects. | |
| Inadequate ventilation | 2 |
| Defective Lighting | 3 |
| Defective or Insufficient Heating | 4 |
| Condensation | 3 |
| Leaking Decks | 11 |
| Leaking Ports and Decklights etc. | 9 |
| Leaking Sideplates | 2 |
| Defective or obstructed floor drainage | 12 |
| Water Lodging on top of Peak Tanks | 3 |
| Defective Bulkheads | 4 |
| do. Floors | 19 |
| do. Doors | 1 |
| do. Bunks | 1 |
| do. Clothes Lockers | 1 |
| do. Food Lockers | 6 |
| do. Food Storage | 27 |
| do. Cooking Arrangements | 33 |
| Defective or Uncleanly Drinking Water Storage | 3 |
| Water Closets — Defective | 31 |
| do. Foul or choked | 45 |
| do. Inadequate Flush | 17 |
| Wash Basins — Defective | 22 |
| do. Foul | 26 |
| Neglected Paintwork or distemper | 18 |
| Misappropriation of crew space | 1 |
| Verminous Quarters | 57 |
| Miscellaneous | 129 |
| TOTAL | 490 |
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.
The importation of Portuguese Oysters for "fattening" in the River Roach and in Barling
Hall Creek, and subsequent re-export to France "ready for the table" has continued during the
year. Each batch of oysters was passed through a Cleansing Tank before re-export and a Certificate
of Purity, as required by the French Authorities was issued, only after sampling and bacteriological
examination had proved that each batch was clean. The co-operation which has been
received in this matter from the Public Health Laboratory at Chelmsford (Dr. R. Pilsworth
Director) is very much appreciated.
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