Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.
- Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department
- Date:
- [1912]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.
133/178 page 66
![PLAGUE AT MARITIME BUILDINGS, POINT. pn ^ February Dr. leniandez telephoned that a rat sent from the above buildings to Ins office had, on examination, been found to be Plague infected, i fTuvt3' o the buildings was at once made, when another rat was found dead in the root gutter. On examination this rat also proved to be Plague infected. Maritime Buildings are situated at the Point opposite “ D ” Shed. They are m_close proximity to the Point Railway Station, found to be infected on TUi January. these buildings are of brick, four storeys in height, and have fiat concrete roots. _ They were in good condition, although owing to the free use o worn on pnihtions, etc., afforded excellent facilities for rat harbourage. 1 11 ie pioiim ooi f icie were two shops in front, and various offices and store- loonis h urn . 0_ the lear portion of this floor was an underground cellar in which paints and hardware goods were stored. Above the ground floor were liee flats with internal concrete balconies surrounding a long narrow ' i ’ ,H 10ai port ion of ^ the first floor comprises a free and a rond store occupied by the Natal Shipping Co. The only entrance to these S,01As P ‘*;.s air Lom one of fhe ground floors. A certain amount of food¬ ie velS,J-lVe f hrr1, 'T Stor<>(1 in 1be boil(b Nbove the third floor and on a i 1 \ j10.. 0 1(H’f V'(M1' st''oral rooms providing accommodation for a • i 7 i-°, ,n< KUIS- bbo 1‘brnainder of flic building consisted of offices and lesidential chambers, many of which were unoccupied. The side walls of the buildings, extending for a depth of SO feet, having been placed on the extreme limit of fhe site, were unprovided with any openings wnrffion! *T ] ^ ° 1011; Jmm,s a£nn,Ht <hoso able ’alls were ventilated by / <in S in, s 1 uaning P',)in Lie ground or first floor up through the building nlSg ab°T ilie r°^- ,As «« shafts were continuous, and corn¬ ea iK 1 0U Th °0r -7th sPaces between fhe floors and ceilings it will readily be seen how easy it was for rats to travel all over the buildim esoeohdlv°nCerl0f |be presence of rats was found throughout the building, and especially m the Indian quarters. * Indin^r th° ailtbre*?b occurred there were IT Europeans and rather more g 111 -thf: of the very grave danger to which Air ilioPn * 7)1( whilst residing there I got into communication with o , :,; IN ’,1 -1 '■ N'T'11! '<■ »Wnco of (1,0 Mayor-,,.„1 from him o'loli '™1 a,}'< :j~-s 1 oof,ons lo servo a copy of the subjoined order on eacli occupier m the buildup?-— J 1st February, 1912. 11 fT?aloT?S-?f jteotion !ifi of '0 %-1,,'vs framed under Section 8 of Act No. i4 of 1899 [rule Proclamation No. 225, 1911), “ i\r. T-,!lorolU or(;cr .vou .to remove from occupation of premises known as t l-U1 jai dings, situate on Point Road, such premises being in the opinion o le Medical Officer of Health unsafe for human habitation bv reason ot unusual mortality among rats from Bubonic Plague. In view of the dangerous condition of these premises, it is incumbent upon } oil to vacate same at the earliest possible moment. (Sgd.) C. R. BISHOP, Deputy Mayor, -- . Borough of Durban. These orders were served the same evening and every person, residing in the building removed. This action was subsequently approved bv the Plague Committee. '](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b31486496_0133.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
