The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-31

Quarantine regulations and feel justified by the
importance OF the subject, and the awakened inte-
rest with which the public IN general now appear to
be disposed TO regard it, to revert to it, and expose
somewhat more in detail the tallacious arguments
which have been employed in the defence OF sys-
TEN, which interieres most injuuously with the in
terests OF commerce. 1t is somewhat difficult 10
open the eyes OF the public TO due sense of the ex-
Isence or enormity OF any abuse or any unjusifa-
bic set oil regulations, unless the public themselves
fee the pressure Of the evil This explains IN no in.
considerable degree the what re mar kable fact
that Quarantine laws, which reason and common
sense well as the discoveries OF science condemn
as unnecessary and unjus:, have been permitted TO
continue IN existence. IL has been only the more
extensive Importers, and others Immediately en-
gaged IN trading seas, who have experienced to
The tall extent the annoyance, inconvenience and
serious injury which these regulations have occa-
stoned And thus the popular voice has not been
raised IN this case, DIS IL would have been in nstan
ces where the disagreeabe effects would have come
home to 4" the bosom and business of every man"
The public IN general have, in this case, acted too
much under the impression that the subject OF a re-
form, or abolition OF the Quarantine laws, was one
with which they had no concern
TIE public begins, however, as we remarked, to
have clear view of lis own interest in this matter
The people begin to ask-Why should we have this
expensive establishment kept up? What necessity
is there for II? Why should SO many thousands OF
dollars annually be paid over 10 health officers
What service TO the public, does the resident ply
s;clan al Staten Island, for instance render, that
he should be paid an annual salary almost equal to
that OF the President OF the United States, exclu-
slve OF The emolument from his washhouse What
GtttYia fh..a e.,
lions in our commerce Where are the reasons TO
be found for OBTAINING ships until in many nstan-
ces their cargoes are ruined kept too late for
profitable market
The answer 10 all these questions, is, "Oh the
public health must be protected the public health
must be preserved, we must guard against the in.
PRODUCTION of disease" This reply answered very
well in the days when the public did not know any
better. But I will not do now. Let us for mo-
ment refer to the period when quarantine regula-
tons were first adopted and enforced. 1t was in
14S4 In that year council OF health was esta-
bllshed at Vienna, for the purpose of guarding
against the introduction of the plague which
had been devastating many parts of Europe When
the ''plague" again made lis appearance, in the
early part of the sixteenth century, the adoption of
quarantine regulations became more general; and
OF all trading vessels before they could be adj
mitted into port The same set OF regulations adop
ted al this remote period, have, with some trivial al
teralions continued in force TO the present day The
appearance OF the " cholera" led TO a still more
rigid enforcement OF the quarantine laws; but it is
worthy of record, as stated by DR.. Thomson, the
able Professor OF Medical Jurisprudence in the Uni
versity OF London, that all precautionary measures
against injection, were neither invented nor propo-
sed by physicians, but ordered by the police autho
riues in direct opposition 10 the medical theories"
respecting contagon and the propagation of disease.
An ounce OF fact is worth pound of argument.
Here we have the evidence that these enactments
were not founded in ienti6c knowledge and ex-
perlence, but probably in many cases at least, swed
their origin principles and motives similar those
which have put the Staten Island wash house"
into successful operation.
The utter inefficiency of quarantine laws in pre-.
venting the invasion OF epidemic diseases, have been
repeatedly demonstrated In fact, the laws and the
generally oppressive and injudlclous manner In
which they have been administered, have had the
effect only Of creating disease. Even In own
temperate climate, what more likely 10 generate
disease amongst crowd OF Immigrants, than 10
keep them cooped up in the ship, their scaaty stock
OF provisions exhausted, and their minds depressed
by the unwe lcome detentlon7
Bur let US GENE TO the actual data, and ascertain
from the facts whether the unjust necessity of keep
ing such an expensive and oppressive establish
ment be apparent Let us look for moment at the
report OF DR.. Doane the late health officer at Sta
ten Island This document bears date Feb. l,
l943,' and the following extract will answer our
purpose In the last three years., says the Doc
tor, "3, 1873 patients have been received here; Of
these there have been Sls OF typhus fever, and
typhoid pneumanla; ga OF remltant and bilious
remlttant fever Bis OF nermittant lever; and 297
oil small pox." And TILE lie the proof OF the neces-
silly OF the continuance o this annoying and expen-
sive system MsItltudes of similar cases are every
week 10 be met with in this any other large city,
and the landing OF these passengers could not posi-
bly, endanger in the slightest degree the public
health. One thousand cases OF fever per annum!-
Why, the physicians OF the New York City Dis
pensary, in Centre street, OF three similar lnst-
tutons attend about 10000 such patients annually.
The truth is there is not shadow of reason or
propriety in continuing these absurd regulations
the offspring OF the dark ages. Medical science
condemns them as entirely unnecessary. The IN
terests OF our merchants and mariners demand
their speedy abolition. We trust that now that the
public in general feel an interest in the matter, some
Tohpt, Judlclous and united effort will be made 10
get nd ct the absurd and oppressive system alto
sether.
And In the meantime, worthy and hard working
members OF the Common Council, another word in
your ears, about the cleansing of the streets. DO
snatch few moments respite from your arduous la
bors, and look at the condition Of our highways and
bye ways. Now that August is coming upon us,
with his presidential levers, do make some effort TO
get rid OF the filth with which streets are cover.
cd. if you don't do something soon, we shall pro.
pose sending you In the next arlal machine on
journey to the moon, where it is credibly affirmed
volcanoes clear the air. and angels sweep the
with Their wings Then. perchance YOU may picE