M(1)67
Of these 233 ships 10 were detained in quarantine, for details see Table IV. The cause of detention in all cases was small-pox.
Fumigation and disinfection of these vessels and the clothing and personal effects of all on board was strictly carried out.
Vaccination of the passengers and crew and medical examination was attended to before release from quarantine.
Twenty-nine cases of infectious disease were investigated and found to be due to non-quarantinable diseases, these were dealt with in the usual manner. This involved the examination of 311 sick persons and many special visits to ships in the harbour.
The total number of persons medically inspected during 1924 amounted to 219,222 which is equivalent to 600 examinations for each day of the year.
IV. VACCINATION DEPARTMENT,
The Vaccination Ordinance, 1923 requires that all emigrants from the Colony shall be sufficiently protected against small-pox. In order to assist emigrants in fulfilling the law the Government instituted a vaccination department on January 1st 1924 and provision was made whereby they could be cheaply and efficaciously vaccinated. The emigrants, however, did not avail themselves of this privilege to any great extent, only 1877 attending during the year for vaccination. In addition 4092 non-emigrants presented themselves for free vaccination. At the examination of emigrants on board ships all persons who in the opinion of the Health Officer were not sufficiently protected had to undergo re-vaccination.
During the year I was assisted for varying periods by Capts. Fettes and Walker, R.A.M.C. and Drs. Smalley, Fehily and Chang.
January 20th, 1925.
B. H. MELLON, Health Officer of the Port.