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SANITATION OF THE PORT OF LONDON.
403 Jt must be remembered also and not a complete one. that Walker, Teale. and Embleton worked with animals with an intact bladder and urethra, and that their contention that the mechanism of spread was hy the phatics only applied tu cases of ascending infection associated with obstruction. When obstruction is sent in the lower urinary passages it is more likely that the infecting organisms ascend along the column of "tagnant urine lying in the ureter.
including 109 tons of meat. Some 56,000 beef tongues were examined, and about 2 per tu be condemned.
found to be infected with were The quantities mentioned are sornetimes considerable : the eye is caught by amounts such as 196 tons of dates and 534 tons of sugar sweepings." The latter may not have contained much sugar, for it is mentioned that chocolate sweepings in another port were found to contain metals, woodwork, glass. and flinty materials. The transport and handling of meat is being carried out in a cleanly manner under the Public Health Regulations, 1924. Under the Public Health (Imported Food) Itegulations, 1925, rendered fats are only allowed to be imported if certificated ; if not certificated they are stopped unless a guarantee is given that they will be exported or used in some manufacturing process not connected with food. A 10-ton consignment of orange pulp in tins was seized, because the contents had fermented, had been resterilised—thus losing food value-and resealed, the result being that the juice now contained too much tin. Dried fruits are treated with sulphur in the port to kill larvæ and this prevents deterioration. No reference is made to the question of latrines about wliicli last year’s report said was having attention.
cent.
of
these
actinomycosis.
"
SANITATION OF THE PORT OF LONDON. Ur. W. M. BB’illougliby, in his report for 1925 to the Port of London Sanitary Authority recently published, mentions that no case of plague, cholera, ,.r typhus fever had tu be dealt with, and that no All plague-infectedrat was found in the port. vessels from abroad are visited by a medical officer ; hips from infected " or suspected ports are boarded and examined on arrival, and later, in dock, come under further scrutiny by a sanitary inspector. Ten deaths were notified, seven from pulmonary tuberculosis, and one each from small-pox, enteric fever, and measles. Three ships reported they had had a case of suspected plague on board during their voyage, hut it is doubtful if any of these was really plague. Twenty-one ships reported outbreaks of small-pox PHYSIOLOGICAL CURE FOR MUSCULAR since leaving their port of origin, and four cases were CRAMP. landed in London. In eight cases complaint seems to have been made in the stage of initial fever, but its Dr. C. W. Fitzhas recently described a simple of treatment which he has used in two cases of significance was rarely, if ever, recognised. As soon as the disease appeared the crews were vaccinated. muscular cramp. One of the patients was an active. but much time would have been saved had the crews strong man of 190 lb. weight. n early life he had had been kept continuously protected, so that these occasional cramp in the feet, and at about the age of infections could not have occurred. A seaman from 53 had sustained a moderate sacro-iliac strain ; dental it ship was found at Stepney to have small-pox ; his abscesses had also been present for an unknown length ship was examined and one of the crew, well vaccinated of time. The cramp seizures began when he was in infancy, was discovered to be recovering from a 55 years old. They usually came on at night during characteristic, though very slight, attack of small-pox. sleep, and involved the quadriceps and inner hamstring That case dated back three or four weeks, and the muscles of the lower limbs. 1-fe noticed that they patient’s brother and two others of the crew had been were worse after fatigue from standing, and during leftbehind at the last port suffering with " influenza " ; the attack the agonising pain indicated that every on inquiry being made they were found to be in a nerve in the hard mass of muscle was pinched as in small-pox hospital. The one slight missed case seems a vice. After 10 or 20 minutes the muscle became thus to have caused at least four others. soft, and though a new contraction often started it In the Port of London, when cases of infectious was of shorter duration and stopped more rapidly disease have occurred, cabins or compartments are under the influence of radiant heat from a fire. Relief now disinfected by sulphur fumigation followed by attacks was only obtained by the use of salicylate washing down with disinfectant, infected articles and in full doses, and administration of this drug was textiles being disinfected by steam. To getrid of continued over a period of two years. The patient’s rats 10 ships were. fumigated with sulphur (average teeth were then extracted ; some slight joint trouble of dead rats found, 62), and 12 with hydrocyanic acid was arrested, and with improved health the cramp (average of dead rats. 54). A paper reproduced in the stopped for two years, after which, however, it began teport tells how thoroughly rat-proofing is being done again. On the theory that cramp is due to alkalosis, at the New York Quarantine Station. The work it occurred to Dr. Fitz that the seizures might be there is based on the three following principles : arrested by causing retention of carbon dioxide, and (t) Ilats want food and water, so these must be kept for this purpose lie uses the following method. At the out of their reach ; (2) they want shelter and nests, first indication of cramp the breath is held, and an so there must be no harbourage for them and no empty rubber bag of 3 pints capacity is applied to rubbish left about to help in nesting ; (3) they must the mouth ; air is then expired into it as late and he kept in the open by blocking up their runways. as slowly as possible. Inspiratory breaths are taken Skilfully used, these measures get rid of rats and are from the bag, but as this is not very large a little of inexpensive ; Dr. Willoughby thinks that if they are the outside air is sucked into it at each inspiration to thoroughly carried out they will stop rat-borne meet the deeper breathing which the deficient oxygenaand the need for frequent disinfestation. A total of tion causes. Dr. Fitz states that this procedure 27,128 rats were caught and destroyed in the. year- prevents oxygen-want, but does not hinder CO2 12.746 in the warehouses and 14,382 on ships in docks accumulation ; but the statement is certainly open to and river. Of those caught in warehouses ashore, criticism since dilut,ion of expired air with atmospheric 1929 (1338 black, 591 brown) were examined for air will obviously diminish the percentage of CO as plague, but all were free. The visits of medical it increases the percentage of oxygen. The result of inspection paid to ships totalled 15,156, and 200 ships rebreathing from the bag is said to be that the cramp were found defective. *The principal complaint was of is at once aborted with only a few weak twinges to dirty quarters (1535), the most numerous after that indicate how severe the attack might have been. being lighting (57), leaky decks (48), sanitary con- Dr. Fitz considers that the condition in the patient veniences (45), and ventilation (44). But it was not he describes is analogous to the tetany or cramp-like only ships that were defective ; nuisances were also effect produced by over-breathing, and he suggests found on shore premises, of which 924 were dirty, and that in his own case the cramp may arise from t;5 had unsatisfactory sanitary conveniences. respiratory acceleration in sleep as the result, for The inspection of imported food is a very important of excitement in dreams. As he points out, branch of the work of a port sanitary authority,there are various conditions of tetany which suggest ’’specially of that of the Port of London, and in the 1 Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, Oct. 28th, 1926. year under review over 1400 tons of unsound food had "
the docks,
form
from
plague
instance,
----
including 109 tons of meat. Some 56,000 beef tongues were examined, and about 2 per tu be condemned.
found to be infected with were The quantities mentioned are sornetimes considerable : the eye is caught by amounts such as 196 tons of dates and 534 tons of sugar sweepings." The latter may not have contained much sugar, for it is mentioned that chocolate sweepings in another port were found to contain metals, woodwork, glass. and flinty materials. The transport and handling of meat is being carried out in a cleanly manner under the Public Health Regulations, 1924. Under the Public Health (Imported Food) Itegulations, 1925, rendered fats are only allowed to be imported if certificated ; if not certificated they are stopped unless a guarantee is given that they will be exported or used in some manufacturing process not connected with food. A 10-ton consignment of orange pulp in tins was seized, because the contents had fermented, had been resterilised—thus losing food value-and resealed, the result being that the juice now contained too much tin. Dried fruits are treated with sulphur in the port to kill larvæ and this prevents deterioration. No reference is made to the question of latrines about wliicli last year’s report said was having attention.
cent.
of
these
actinomycosis.
"
SANITATION OF THE PORT OF LONDON. Ur. W. M. BB’illougliby, in his report for 1925 to the Port of London Sanitary Authority recently published, mentions that no case of plague, cholera, ,.r typhus fever had tu be dealt with, and that no All plague-infectedrat was found in the port. vessels from abroad are visited by a medical officer ; hips from infected " or suspected ports are boarded and examined on arrival, and later, in dock, come under further scrutiny by a sanitary inspector. Ten deaths were notified, seven from pulmonary tuberculosis, and one each from small-pox, enteric fever, and measles. Three ships reported they had had a case of suspected plague on board during their voyage, hut it is doubtful if any of these was really plague. Twenty-one ships reported outbreaks of small-pox PHYSIOLOGICAL CURE FOR MUSCULAR since leaving their port of origin, and four cases were CRAMP. landed in London. In eight cases complaint seems to have been made in the stage of initial fever, but its Dr. C. W. Fitzhas recently described a simple of treatment which he has used in two cases of significance was rarely, if ever, recognised. As soon as the disease appeared the crews were vaccinated. muscular cramp. One of the patients was an active. but much time would have been saved had the crews strong man of 190 lb. weight. n early life he had had been kept continuously protected, so that these occasional cramp in the feet, and at about the age of infections could not have occurred. A seaman from 53 had sustained a moderate sacro-iliac strain ; dental it ship was found at Stepney to have small-pox ; his abscesses had also been present for an unknown length ship was examined and one of the crew, well vaccinated of time. The cramp seizures began when he was in infancy, was discovered to be recovering from a 55 years old. They usually came on at night during characteristic, though very slight, attack of small-pox. sleep, and involved the quadriceps and inner hamstring That case dated back three or four weeks, and the muscles of the lower limbs. 1-fe noticed that they patient’s brother and two others of the crew had been were worse after fatigue from standing, and during leftbehind at the last port suffering with " influenza " ; the attack the agonising pain indicated that every on inquiry being made they were found to be in a nerve in the hard mass of muscle was pinched as in small-pox hospital. The one slight missed case seems a vice. After 10 or 20 minutes the muscle became thus to have caused at least four others. soft, and though a new contraction often started it In the Port of London, when cases of infectious was of shorter duration and stopped more rapidly disease have occurred, cabins or compartments are under the influence of radiant heat from a fire. Relief now disinfected by sulphur fumigation followed by attacks was only obtained by the use of salicylate washing down with disinfectant, infected articles and in full doses, and administration of this drug was textiles being disinfected by steam. To getrid of continued over a period of two years. The patient’s rats 10 ships were. fumigated with sulphur (average teeth were then extracted ; some slight joint trouble of dead rats found, 62), and 12 with hydrocyanic acid was arrested, and with improved health the cramp (average of dead rats. 54). A paper reproduced in the stopped for two years, after which, however, it began teport tells how thoroughly rat-proofing is being done again. On the theory that cramp is due to alkalosis, at the New York Quarantine Station. The work it occurred to Dr. Fitz that the seizures might be there is based on the three following principles : arrested by causing retention of carbon dioxide, and (t) Ilats want food and water, so these must be kept for this purpose lie uses the following method. At the out of their reach ; (2) they want shelter and nests, first indication of cramp the breath is held, and an so there must be no harbourage for them and no empty rubber bag of 3 pints capacity is applied to rubbish left about to help in nesting ; (3) they must the mouth ; air is then expired into it as late and he kept in the open by blocking up their runways. as slowly as possible. Inspiratory breaths are taken Skilfully used, these measures get rid of rats and are from the bag, but as this is not very large a little of inexpensive ; Dr. Willoughby thinks that if they are the outside air is sucked into it at each inspiration to thoroughly carried out they will stop rat-borne meet the deeper breathing which the deficient oxygenaand the need for frequent disinfestation. A total of tion causes. Dr. Fitz states that this procedure 27,128 rats were caught and destroyed in the. year- prevents oxygen-want, but does not hinder CO2 12.746 in the warehouses and 14,382 on ships in docks accumulation ; but the statement is certainly open to and river. Of those caught in warehouses ashore, criticism since dilut,ion of expired air with atmospheric 1929 (1338 black, 591 brown) were examined for air will obviously diminish the percentage of CO as plague, but all were free. The visits of medical it increases the percentage of oxygen. The result of inspection paid to ships totalled 15,156, and 200 ships rebreathing from the bag is said to be that the cramp were found defective. *The principal complaint was of is at once aborted with only a few weak twinges to dirty quarters (1535), the most numerous after that indicate how severe the attack might have been. being lighting (57), leaky decks (48), sanitary con- Dr. Fitz considers that the condition in the patient veniences (45), and ventilation (44). But it was not he describes is analogous to the tetany or cramp-like only ships that were defective ; nuisances were also effect produced by over-breathing, and he suggests found on shore premises, of which 924 were dirty, and that in his own case the cramp may arise from t;5 had unsatisfactory sanitary conveniences. respiratory acceleration in sleep as the result, for The inspection of imported food is a very important of excitement in dreams. As he points out, branch of the work of a port sanitary authority,there are various conditions of tetany which suggest ’’specially of that of the Port of London, and in the 1 Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, Oct. 28th, 1926. year under review over 1400 tons of unsound food had "
the docks,
form
from
plague
instance,
----