The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-22
Sanitary Precautions on Board Vessels.
TO TnE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

NoRFoLK, Va Nov. l6, 1855.
In the HERALD Of Novem Der Is appears the iol-
owing article--
SHIPS aiysg At this port repor, alarming mortality
on board. IN, shp Dcuau. which arrived rhursdss,
Rad twenty four deaths the passage The Ha~afd and
Humboldt srIived yesterday, had respectively twenty
iied inquiry should be instla,ei Of
irigtrui mortality.
agree with you. sir, that something ought to be
done, and ask to offer few suggestions
First, let every ship carrying passengers be re-
quir.d. before taking in cargo, 70 be pumped out
diy fresh water admitted, and then that pumped
cut: next have the hole dried by q stove or stov
placed on the keelson, and large and continuous
ere kept up for not less than twelve hours before
c. mmencing 10 load, and by this means the heat
will dissipate and cause TO ascend the noxious and
unhealthy atmosphere which will escape at the
hsfchss and ts place be supplied by fresh and healthy
air. Indeed, VI space could be left 10 slowing the
cargo by which a stove could be placed at the bot
tom Of The chip, ana In damp and change ,blc
weather fire knded IN II, doubt not II would add
greatly to the health Of the crew and passengers.
In 1856 wrote an article which was published In
TIE National Mfsfhgsncsr, In which CT ed instances
Of The healthy and purifying effects Of heat ia cellars
h dfos ms ana Ia damp weather and since that time
am NOE thoroughly convinced OF the correctness
Of my theory. But before close this article. per.
NIT ne 10 make une or tao other suggestions rela-
tive TO the health board passenger ships: Although
most Of our sea capisns stsnd deserve3ly high
bold energetic and competent sailors, yet there
are many Of thtm too big for their breeches,n and
when they stans on the quarter deck Of q square
Jigpern they ne prorder and rrsDder than even the
Iiesidtn mt himself. They never during the voyage
60 forward u the msinmast, but trust all to their
mates, who are often unfeeng, naughty, filthy and
iyrsnnical. The captain Of = ship should hmself
examine ell the apartments OF the passengers, see
that they are cleaned every day during the voyage;
and this sbond be done by persons belonging to the
ship snd not trusted TO steeraRe passengers whs
generally sea sick and unable N perform the duty.
He should al 20 zee that their persons and clothes
kent clean, and require them 10 shit their gar
m.nts for unless compelled to do t. the In such an
Indifferent etme alone feeling attending se sickness
that ,usrrarts viii come the whole voyage without
once chsnqing their clothes. which Of Itself produces
disease. would also require that every ship should
have on deck bath houses and oil passen gers should
be csmpelled to battle at stated periods during the
trip. Something like military rule and discipline
must he observed and enforced on boa, d emgrant
snd othsr sbips; and Congress should al It's next
session lepislate on this subject
have thrown out these few hints, hoping I'll It
older and wiser heads may consider them more +
turey and n there s any merit in them at least try
the experiment. ard they viii perhaps be found 10
contribute 10 the health and comfort OF some po,r
unfortunate fellow beirgs. AccoKAc.