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side Authorities each of which had riparian powers in the Port before the Public Health Act of
1872 came into operation. They had subsequently no sanitary powers within the limits of the
Port up to high water mark. A description is given of the River with the special concentration of
vessels in the 10 mile stretch from London Bridge to Woolwich Arsenal Pier no less than 400
of all descriptions, and also the seven sets of docks with between 6 and 7 hundred vessels.
Comment is made of the undesirability that persons suffering from contagious or infectious disease
should be landed from a vessel and taken through the populous neighbourhoods of East London, so
it is recommended that a floating hospital capable of accommodating 10 patients, moored near
Deptford be provided. As a consequence the Sanitary Authority would be entirely independent of
all extraneous services. A report is included of the work performed by Dr. Whitcombe, Medical
Superintendent of the "RHIN" at Gravesend, who had the duty of inspecting any case of sickness
on board inward-bound vessels reported by the Officers of H.M. Customs.
In consequence of the ever present danger of cholera being imported into this country, an
Order in Council of July 18th, 1873, imposed on the Port Sanitary Authority important and responsible
duties. By the terms of this Order, officers of the Port Sanitary Authority were required
to inspect the crew and passengers of any ship when called upon to do so by the Officers of
Customs, these latter officers having on arrival of the vessel put stated questions to the Master
of the ship. This Order and the set of questions are the forerunners of the Public Health Ships
Regulations and the Master's Declaration of Health Form that are in use at the present time. It is
interesting to note that human nature has not altered much with the passage of time, for we find
the M.O.H. reporting that this system is not a sufficient safeguard against the importation of
epidemic disease. He gives two examples. A ship from Stettin and Copenhagen arrived off Gravesend.
Dr. Leach was on board for the purpose of examining emigrants and he heard the official
questions put to the Master who replied "All well". Later, on inspecting the passengers, Dr.
Leach found the role incomplete, discovering a German emigrant very ill in the sick bay with
erysipelas. In the second instance, a notice was received requesting that certain clothes of
sailors who had died at sea might be disinfected. Upon making enquiries and inspecting the
official log book of the ship, it was found that the men had died of cholera during the homeward
passage but nevertheless in reply to the Customs questions at Gravesend, the Master said "no
deaths during the homeward voyage". Dr. Leach accordingly recommended that a notice be issued
requiring all vessels arriving from ports infected with, or suspected of, cholera to hoist a yellow
flag on reaching the Nore Light and that the Medical Officer be required to board all such vessels
and examine crew, passengers and official log book. Under the Order in Council a medical officer
"may" do so. The method of fumigating ships with sulphur and charcoal was then in use. Clothing
was disinfected in a weak solution of carbolic acid in boiling water. However the provision of a
suitable disinfection apparatus in association with the floating or other hospital was recommended.
Certain moorings had been arranged for use as necessary to place ships in quarantine. Means of
communication by telegram between the various port officers and the officer of the Port Sanitary
Authority were arranged.
At this early state, the M.O.H. reports on the necessity of proper means of locomotion for
the officers in the carrying out of their duties. That a steam launch is necessary to board vessels
for ordinary inspections, to make visits to vessels in various parts of the port, and for the inspection
of emigrant ships below Gravesend arriving with or suspected of cholera.
Dr. Leach set out the Qualifications of a Port Medical Officer. In these he included knowledge
of the geography of the port, as well as the general construction of wooden and iron vessels, their
ventilation, arrangement of latrines, bilges, etc. He required familiarity with Merchant Shipping
Acts, Emigration Acts and the Public Health Act, 1872. Scales of diet used commonly in coasters,
ocean steam ships and sailing vessels. Nationalities of vessels using the port, their number and
cargoes. Kind and varieties of water tanks on board. Sources of water supply of ships. Knowledge
of weekly and quarterly bills of mortality issued by the Registrar General and early information
as to any special epidemic disease in our own outposts, or ports of the Mediterranean or Baltic
Seas. The M.O.H. next elaborated in detail the duties of the Port M.O. -
1. He is to indicate to the Sanitary Inspector the vessels to be systematically visited and
examined, especially coasting vessels, the crews of which live on board.
2. To enquire into the water supply of vessels in port and advise as to its proper source and
storage.
3. To superintend the removal from a vessel of any person suffering from any contagious or
infectious disease to the hospital set apart for this purpose.
4. To superintend the disinfection of all clothing of seamen who have died of contagious or
infectious disease and grant a certificate accordingly.
5. To inspect before landing emigrants who arrived in the port from the Continent for purposes
of transhipment and to isolate all suspected cases.
6. To carry out under the direction of the Port Sanitary Authority all special Orders in Council
relating to the prevention of cholera or other epidemic diseases.
7. To obtain all possible information as to and keep a close account of all foreign ports infected
with or suspected of cholera, and with the aid of the Customs' Officers to inspect all vessels
as they arrive from such ports.
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