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they had come to moorings. A large proportion of these vessels required constant general inspection.
Among the other duties fumigation and disinfection of vessels also clothing were not the
least important. For isolation of the sick a hospital ship was maintained at Gravesend. The work
done by the Port Authority was in spite of many limitations and difficulties considerable and the
inspection of thousands of ships, the cleansing and fumigation of foul and infected vessels, the
removal to hospital of seamen suffering from contagious or infectious disease and thedrsinfection
of clothing were sanitarily of the greatest advantage to the inhabitants of the metropolis In 1882 the
limits of the Port of London were extended seawards and in the following year the powersof the Port
Sanitary Authority were extended by the Diseases Prevention Metropolis Act 1883. Most of the
powers of an urban sanitary authority under the Public Health Act of 1875 were conferred upon
it and the medical officer of health reported that he believed the legal part of the Authority would
be found amply sufficient for the sanitary control and supervision of the Port. The Authority
extended its attention now to the inspection of imported meat. It was a matter of the first importance
to watch carefully the food supply of the people. The trade of frozen meat had been
rapidly growing and from time to time large quantities arrived in unsound condition which it was
most necessary should be prevented going to the market, and food in general came under surveillance
with the introduction of Imported Food Regulations.
I will refer to Monckton Copeman's association with Port Health work.
In consequence of the rapid diffusion of cholera throughout Russia in the summer of 1892
an emergency survey of the chief English Ports and Riparian Sanitary Districts was instituted by
the Board in July 1892. The objects of the survey were to ascertain
(a) the state of preparedness of the Authorities of Maritime Districts to deal with
ship-borne cholera, and
(b) to advise these Authorities as to the action necessary, to be taken to carry out
the Board's Cholera Orders.
This emergency survey was completed by the end of October, and Dr. Monckton Copeman was one
of the officers to whom it was entrusted. In consequence of the unsatisfactory character of the
then current arrangements in many of the districts visited and in view of the continued prevalence
of cholera in Europe, it was considered desirable that a more detailed and deliberate survey of
the whole coast line should be undertaken early in 1893 and again Dr. Copeman was engaged in
this survey work and made a detailed enquiry with respect to the general administration of the
Port Sanitary Districts on the section of coast line allotted to him. Before proceeding to a District
he was supplied with definite queries as to several matters to which his attention was to be
directed, such as the constitution and limits of jurisdiction of the Authority; the amount and
character of shipping trade; means of communication (rail or water) between port and inland
districts; the character of administration as regards routine inspection of vessels and arrangements
for detecting and limiting the spread of infectious diseases generally; efficiency of special
arrangements to carry out the Board's Cholera Orders.
He was also furnished with Ordnance Maps and Admiralty Charts of the districts he was to
survey.
It is revealing to consider some of Dr. Copeman's personal remarks concerning the Inspectors
of Nuisances in individual reports, e.g. of one he writes "He appears to carry out his duties
fairly well as far as he understands them. He is unfortunately so completely deaf that he can only
hear with the aid of an ear trumpet and then even with difficulty". What a revealing statement
concerning John Stevenson of whom it was written as well as the subject of thismemorial lecture.
How kindly and considerate in view of the grave disability of deafness. But Dr. Copeman could
be equally incisive and forthcoming. In one instance in which the inspector was also a Civil
Engineer and Borough Surveyor and Water Works Engineer and Inspector of Nuisancesalso to the
Urban Sanitary District, he reports "This officer appears to have little or no knowledge of the
duties of his post as Inspector of Nuisances to the Port Sanitary Authority. The other appointments
which he holds in the town take up the greater part of his time and in consequence he
neglects altogether his duties in connection with the port".
In conclusion I wish to express my gratitude for my nomination to the honourable position
of Monckton Copeman Lecturer 1969 and to you, my hearers, for your patient listening.