The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-22
The Quarantine.

$500 ~
The Quarantine.
The hot weather is upon us, and any mornin
we may expect that the living questions whc
underlie the quarantine dispute may be calle
into practical controversy. The building for
fever hospital at Seguines Point has been deisy
ed by various causes, among which the hesv,
rains are mentioned as the most decent it is no
yet rooted, and should yellow fever ship arriv
tomorrow, the patients would require to be take
to the old hospital at Tompknsvile. In a few
days, however, it is confidently expected that tn
delay which has occurred at Seguines Point viii
be repaired; and the friends of the new Commu.
Goners state that they have so thoroughly scared
the oystermen that no difficulty need be appre
hended from them.
Thus far, then, the way is clear; and the nen
Point in the controversy which will arise wu,
turn upon the main point of the queston--is Sc
guine's point fitting location for a quarantine
hospital? That question, we apprehend, will be
settled in the negative before the close of the
season.
What mOtive-beyond the corrupt speculations
in real estate which have been made public
influenced the Commissioners in the selection Of
this site, it is difficult to conjecture 1t is very
difficult to get at; ships cannot approach within
great Distance the channel is intricate and
dangerous the beach shelving. In respect to
isolation, it is only one remove better than tue
present site there are farm houses, and the resi-
dences Of cystermen in the immediate vicinity,
and an unbroken row of cottages along the shore
might serve, In the case of epidemic, as con-
ductors for the poison from the hospital to the
thickly settled portions of the island and to the
city.
But the most striking characteristic Of Sc
guine's Point is the unhealthy nature of that
part of the island. Fever and ague, which pre-
walls over most Of the island at certain seasons,
and In a mild form, assumes there peculiarly
aggravated type. 1t is permanent resident Of
the spot; persons not acclimated by residence
of years, suffer almost continuously during the
spring, fall and summer from bilious fevers and
acute ague. OF late years the disease has grown
more severe go much so that many persons who
purchased land there few years back, are now
anxious to part with it. The cause of the
malady is as conspicuous as its effects. The
shore is low, marshy and unwholesome. la
years like the present, the ground is soddeu for
a great distance from the beach, and rank
marsh vegetation fourishes for acre upon acre |;
when the fierce July heats come to bear upon
this, malarious vapor will be evolved that win
he fatal to breathe.
Surely ii must have occurred to some
one of the Commissioners that to plant yellow
fever in spot like this was to give 1t every
chance OF becoming endemic. The history OF the
Norfolk fever and indeed oil the published &C
counts Of yellow fever epdemics la the South.
show that the disease need not be severe or con
tinuous If means are taken TO deprive IL of the
food on which it preys Plant 1t in wholesome
locality, and it dies out directly but give it the
least foothold on spot predsposed to fever, ard
adapted for disease, and il naturally thrives and
spreads This is the danger of the fever hospital
at Segune's Point
Time is passing 20 rapidly that few days
more will have stripped these questions Of their
direct interest 1t may be, and we think there
is a strong probability that we shall not be visit
cd by yellow fever at all this year. But should
the gloomy fOrebcdings of the physicians be
realized, il will then be well to remember that
the defects of the Seguine's Point location were
pointed out In advance, aud that the Commits
sioners were warned to hold their hand, while il
was yet time. Should the destroyer come there
will be terrible account for some one to render.