The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-01


great extent in different districts Of the city, and
that it is no longer confined to the emigrants who
bring it, and the psor who inhabit the most un-
healthy quarters, and come into immediate contact
with the emf rants but it is spreading in the city
and the surrounding country, and in many instances
is fatal to persons in comfortable circumstances in
life It is peculiarly infectious, and at all times ex-
ceedingly dangerous. Now that the summer is
setting in, the danger will be still greater, and
every precaution ought to be adopted to guard
against it.
Some time ago, when the extension Of this disease
produced alarm in the public mind, an cutlery was
raised and the city authorities called upon to
check its progress by insulating the infected dis
tricts and by removing the Office Of the Commits
sioners of Emigration from the Park, and their
abominable, filthy lodging houses from their present
position. But it is obvious that this is begin
ming at the VI ong end, when we reflect upon
the fact that in the year 1851 there sent from
the city to the Marine Hospital, at Staten Island,
andt the Emigrant Refuge at Wards Island, sic
thousand cases of ship terer, which never ought to
have been in the city at all, and never would have
been, if the health regulations had been stringent
ly and efficiently carried out. These cases were al
lowed to pass the Quarantine into the city with
their infected clothing, rocking from the crowded
ship and spreading death wherever they went; and
then, forsooth after the mischief is done, such Of
them as could be sent, sent back to the place
where they ought to have been detained at first.
To show the reader that we are not speaking
without authority, we quote from the last annual
report Of the Commissioners of Emigration, recently
issued. At page AZ, the late DR.. Doane, the Health
Officer, states -
There remained at the Marine Hospital, January
4. 1881 234
Admitted during the year. 6109
Total treated. ...........................6 343
In the Same page it is added, that scout of the
whole number admitted during the past year,
1929 came from the city; and during the early Pc
rod of 1851 the principal disease at the Marine Hos
pital ship fever" In page Al of the report,
the Commissioners say that at Wards Island there
were 2,OU9 cases Of the disease, and that they
nearly all persons very recently from shipboard.
Here, then are 1909 cascs, which, added to 1929
sent from the city to the Marine Hospital, gives
total Of 6S3S cases, which allowed to pass tho
Quarantine into the city. Judging from the result
at Wards Island of the 1900 cases sent there is it
not evident that the consequences must have been
equally fatal in the city, where these poor people
of their companions remained, because too i'll to be
removed? In reference to the twelve graduates in
medicine residing on Wards Island the report says
"Most of them, in turn, have been Frustrated by
fever contracted in the performance of their
labors: and since the close of the year
one of them has died" Many of the healthy
emigrants at the Refuge have died from the
same cause, having escaped the peps of the disease
| III. n
our citizens have fallen victims to it, whose lives
would have been saved if proper precaution had
been adoptedat Quarantine.
Who are responsible for this :! We answer, the
Commissioners of Emigration, who have the manage
ment both Of the Marine Hospital and the Institu-
ton at Wards Island. 1t was their duty to see
that those emigrants who were suffering from con-
tagious disease should be SENT their arrival at
Quarantine, to the Marine Hospital, while those
who aborcd under non-contagious disease should be
sent mp to Wards Island. This is the law; and they
have failed to carry it out either at Quarantine or
here. They permit the fever patients to up to
the city. for want of proper scrutiny stringent
enforcement Of the law at Quarautine and then,
when those icyer break out in the city, instead
Of sending them all to the Marine Hospital at
Staten Island, the statute directs they send 900
them to Wards Island to spread the disease
among the uninfected emigrants there Why have
they not procured proper place in the city for the
reception of the emgrants who apply for admission
TO the Refuge! why do they not appoint comps-
tent doctor to examine them, in order to determine
whether they are laborng under fever or not, and
have them sent to the proper hospital accordingly!
Above all, why have they not adopted those means
required prevention ofthe disease shipboard
This would be to begin at the beginning, and would
render unnecessary, to great extent, many Of the
other measures incieently carried out. It is the
overcrowding Of the passenger ships, the want of
! proper ventilation and plenty of wholesome food
andwater together with a,dsrcgard Of cleanliness,
and the absence of competent medical aid, that first
originate and then spread the contagion. The un-
fortunate emigrants are often regarded with aver
sion, as communicating disease TO citizens, when
they are themselves but the victims of cupidity and
| tho neglect Of the Commissioners Of Emigration
! We will not say that ship owners in the passenger
trade are wiifully and designedly favored. in the
first instance, by permitting them TO violate the
sanitary laws, on board their ships, with impunity
and secondly, when this violation produces its natu
raj result-a crop Of fever and death-tLe pesilent
ships are allowed to pass Quarantine without proper
purication and the passengers sent up to the city
with fever actually upon them, lest by delay the
gains arising from the trasc should be abridged
we;sill not say the motives corrupt but the
facts are indisputasle, and let those who are en-
trusted by the State with the care Of the emgrants
and the enforcement efthe Quarantine laws, account
for their neglect to the public. They cannot be ig-
norant Of their duty, of the state Of things which
they themselves report. To say the least, m irdf
ference to the fate of the poor emgrant, and to the
lives Of their ieow-citzenr, is too palpabe TO adj
nit of doubt or to permit their continuance in eG;ce
with safety to the health OF tic city.
FATHER MATHEW AND HIS SGCRETARY.-Amob
the passengers by the Washington, is Mr.. O'Meara,
the Secretary of Rev. Theobad Mathew, whom he
left with his relatives at Cork, tie veteran friar