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as he did "I am endeavouring to make such arrangements as shall render us independent of all
examinations at Gravesend".
Approval was given on 17th September, 1874, to the purchase of a steam launch "LENA" to
facilitate the boarding of vessels in the port for the purposes of ordinary inspection as well as
emigrant ships in addition to enable visits to be made to vessels in various parts of the Port by
the Sanitary Inspector.
As time passes we find the M.O.H. has to deal with the importation of cholera from Hamburg,
an outbreak of scarlatina on the school ship "WORCESTER", and an extensive importation of
smallpox from Antwerp. This was followed in 1875 by an outbreak of typhoid fever on board the
reformatory school ship "CORNWALL", moored off Purfleet, and though very extensive, only
two cases proved fatal. This outbreak was due to infection of drinking water carried from shore
to the ship' in an open boat which was moored at the ship's side not far from the discharge pipe
of the closet in the sick bay.
The expieriences of epidemics on school ships as well as the destruction by fire of two of
them "GOLIATH" and "WARSPITE" led the M.O.H. to make enquiry into these establishments
accommodating some 4,000 boys. He reported, giving details of ventilation, water supply, closets,
berths, and hospital accommodation, and makes recommendations for the prevention of disease.
*
Dr. Leach was not a year in office till he visited the Ports of Havre, Antwerp and Rotterdam
in order to see the methods of procedure practised by France, Belgium and Holland in finding out
and published the existence of cholera in their areas. He reported what he found on his visits
rather shrewdly -
"In respect of French ports, the utmost secrecy and mystery prevails as to the existence of
cholera, so that it is'almost impossible to obtain exact data on which to form correct conclusions."
"After having denied its existence, and then differed in opinion as to whether it was sporadic
or epidemic, the medical men of Havre were forced to acknowledge in the beginning of
August that cholera really existed in the town".
"In respect of Belgian ports early news as to the existence of the epidemic is not difficult
to obtain because all medical men are compelled to inform the Secretaries of the Sanitary
Commissions as to the occurrence of any case."
"As regards Holland everything appears, so to speak, 'open and above-board. In Rotterdam
and other maritime towns, all physicians are compelled, under a heavy penalty, to send
immediate noticeto the burgomaster whenever a case of cholera orcholeraic diarrhoea occurrs.
This official at once advertises the fact in the daily journals, communicates the particulars
thereof to the Sanitary Commission, and virtually "quarantines" the house in which the
patient is residing by directing the residents to place in their windows a distinguishing card
or mark".
He concludes —
"(a) That when epidemic cholera is known to exist in Northern Europe, all arrivals from
French ports should at once be narrowly watched, whether we are officially aware of the
existence of the disease in these ports or not.
(b) That less vigilance is required as regards arrivals from Belgian ports, until official
information is received.
(c) That as regards Holland, we may believe confidently that the first outbreak of the
disease will be speedily followed by precise official particulars.
(d) That all vessels trading between British ports and Rotterdam should not fill up their
water-tanks in the latter city, if possible, as the "Maas" is polluted with sewage, and no
other source of water-supply really exists".
We still maintain close association with various continental ports,and Rotterdam and Antwerp
as well as Hamburg have been visited in recent years.
In September, 1878, because of the possibility of the importation of Yellow Fever into this
country, the President of the Local Government Board wrote the Port Sanitary Authority impressing
upon them the great importance of providing means of isolation and disinfection for cases of
of infectious disease. He again wrote in February, 1879, on the occasion of an epidemic of plague
in Russia drawing their attention to this requirement. The provision then existing was the hulk
"RHIN" moored at Gravesend used as a Hospital Ship.
Dr. Leach's health began to fail in 1878 and he was granted six months sick leave, but died
in 1879 and was succeeded by Dr. W. Collingridge who became the second Medical Officer of
Health of the Port of London.
As can be seen from this short sketch of his work Dr. Leach was a worthy first M.O.H. There
is scarcely any aspect of Port Health Preventive Medicine in which he was not' Interested and
for which he did not lay a sure foundation of practice on which his successors oould safely build.
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