The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-02
QUAR- ANTINE AFFAIRS.
Investigation before Judge Mctcalfe at Sta
pletOn.

FiEs THAT THE SICK SUFFERED NO INJURY FROM
THE BURNING OF QUARANTINE.
The investigation resumed yesterday morning at 10
O'Clock. Mr.. Ray Tompkins and Mr.. Thompson with
their counsel, exJudge Dean and Mr. Anthon pre-
SENT together with Mr. peckham who represented the
prosecution.
DIR. Elisha Harris the nsst witness examined. He
deposed as foows'-I am practising physician in the
city Of New York; have been in practice since 1S49 in
that city, held the position OF Physician Of the Marine
Hospital at Quarantine, in 1866 able speak as TO
matters in connection with that hospial-they have
gagged my attention for time; the Marine Hospita
was established in 1899, branch Of Quarantine
tablisbmont which had been existing for years; pre-
vous to that date for several years the azzarettos
Quarantine had been located Bedoes and Governors
Islands, they almost exclusively devoted to small
pcx the pstcncc of yellow fever during 1905 and 1898
had aed great anxiety with regard TO the prevalence
Of that fever in New York in epidemic form that
city, the yellow fever had prevailed terrcally Phla
dcpha 1898 and l79S the disease believed at that
period by Of the physicians health officers to be
strictly OF domestic endcmica origin, while few
physicians who had carefully observed the disease be-
licved TO be also strictly contagious maady their
opinions warranting not only the conclusion that vel.
low fever might originate in the time anywhere
from vessels arriving in the port but that liable
also from vessels arriving in the port and that liable
TO spread by personal contagon great interest taken
in the choice of proper location Of the hospitals and for
the temporary detention OF vessels that supposed
eolardsc the health of the city, during the early period
Of the epidemic in 1898, Dr. Treat, Health Officer in the
Board, died Of yellow fever contracted he believed
generally supposed from his general exposure
the sick and those diving Of that disease Dr Richard
Bailey who succeeded him as Health Officer entertained
the very rational opinion respecting Dr. Treats case
well respecting the origin of yellow fever generally
the city, that it of cndcmia origin. both shpboard
and in the lower parts of the city. mention these facts
TO indicate Of the important considerations which
weighed those who had direction of the laws establish
the Quarantine establishment selected mainly through
the influence of Or. Richard Bailey and In the winter of
1889 the statutes regulating the position and affairs Of the
Quarantine passed by the legislature the spe-
cia advantages Of the location at that tme claimed
by those interested in the selection OF the locality,
were first, that, in accordance with the views then
entertained by the best informed physicians the location
presumed to be sufficient distance from the city
TO insure the population in the city and vicinity from vel
low fever whatever its origin; Dr. r. Bailey being
innate friend Of Rev Dr. Moore OF st. Andrews parish
the island, frequently exchanged views with him upon
ating to the diffusion Of the disease and they concluded
in the views, did all men in their day that there
danger Of the dnsou Of yellow fever from the location
which about being selected and which selected
for the Quarantine establishment Staten Island another
consideration Of great importance with these gentlemen
and the physicians the well known saubrity of the
locality, and the very excellent anchorage Immediately
front OF the ground selected am not aware what oppos
ton may have been made to the selection by the nhab
tants Of the island, that is not matter OF medical
record but there much delay in securing title to the
land, supposed to originate from some opposition the cur
rent medical doctrines OF the day hardly admitted Of aqucs
ton respecting the population o the island the doctrine OF
the personal contagon of the fever that the deseasc
OF local origin, shipboard in cities, became the
opinion Of the mass of the people probably staten
Island well in New York, and Health officer
Of that day stated would be prepos;erous for yellow fever
prevail Island these doctrines continued 10 pre
vail during Dr. Richard Balcys life; a strong belief in
the doctrine OF personal conagon OF yellow fever pre-
vailed, both Of the meaisal profession up TO
1922 and such the xed opinion of Dr Joseph Bailey
when the last great epidemic visited the city the year
leo5 to 1921 only seventy cascs of yellow fever ad
mted TO the Marine Hospital, and these admitted
in eleven different years. the fact proving that there was
but little exposure from imported Infection, at least and
in small degree accounting for the general satisfaction
with which Quarantine was then regarded; We nnd IN
1921 and 1872 the Health Officer, nr. Baley firmly
pressing his opinion that no case Of yellow fever that he
ever wincrecd while connected with tue Quarantine
tab sbment had been caused by infection AZ greater dis
than 900 feet from the attacked and only one
on record IN connection with the history of Quarantine
up to 1924 - which there any positive evidence Of the
communication of the injection 10 greater distance than
$50 feet directly through the atmosphere that apology
for those gentlemen who located Quarantine in its present
spot Ia ls2 there was single case upon staten Island
IN which fatal yellow fever attacked the brother OF
lighter man. Mr. Daniel Van Deusen, whose residence
than half mile distant from the Quarantine es,ab
shment and IN this case was known that he had not
been exposed 10 the infected shppng that case was at
trbuted 10 the personal communication OF the disease
from elder brother who known 10 have contracted
the disease on board ship IN 1877 the first alarming cpl
demic Of yellow fever occurred Staten Island in 1921
took place, which originated directly and solely from
large number Of infected vessels then under quarantp
which driven ashore In storm. Witness then al
lucd 10 the OF contagion mentioned by Dr. Bailey ia
the MEDICAL Jo0nal, and procccdcd-In ls22 the cit
yellow fever. but there was no epidemic on
staten Island although there several cases,
lection Of fever conveyed from the vessel by means
the goods which Ghcred from them 10 the foot u
Rector street that conclusion was most unquestionaby
Between 1891 and 1sls of black vomit oc
CURED along shore Of the Island oposc the anchor
age. Witness then enumerated the cases in is4s
Quarnntines Instituted n stay the alarming pro-
grcss of the Oriental plaque and subsequently prevent
the spread Of smallpox The history Of quarantine regu
atons against yellow fever IN those places where That
indigenous endemic, must be looked 10 Tor
definite and decisive results yet in tropical climates,
AZ on the islands a Cuba s. Thomas the experience Of
the last hundred years has shown that epdemcs Of the
maady followed very frequently upon the arrival u
infected vessels at certain points upon those islands which
are not believed 70 be continually infected Win inc us
from its most prolific centres Of diffusion, namely
infected vessels, IN cold climates, or IN climates
much lower than that 81 tho average temperature u New
York In summer Cor example, In any of the ports Of
Great Britain and Ireland Hence the experience Of any
PARTIES in thoee parts o no consequence 10 the port
~ New York and All other Atlantic ports from Portland
10 Savannah. need 10 ascertain their necessities ana
the requisite means for their individual protection Prom
the very of the case Quarantine establishment
for yellow fever with It's anchorage hospitals &c, unless
IL he perfectly isolated removed from The vicinity q
populous neghbcrhoos cannot protection against
the Infection vessels which have arrived the
time from ports infected with yellow fever, arc emit
ice the Of Danger the air contained IN tho com
parimens Of tho vessel and IN the packages of goods must
also bo considered supplying the mciia by which the
infection c yellow fever has been conveyed 10 the city and
vicinity " New York say the solid structures well al
the contained has been demonstrated al
that scung infected vessel does not dsnfec her.
and there are reasons 10 bcev. fun application of
the Infection; the air contained in Infected vessel may
he waited n considerable distance, In the Of Van
Dcuscr in 1871 that distance than half mile;
in 1855 the radius of infection great that swept
both the Long Island and the Staten Island shores from
tho Quarantine entrance the sources Of Infection on and
in the vicinity OF Quarantine grounds were unduestona
bynrst several infected vessels dischargng within ono
mile Of those grounds second bales o landed on the
government dock at Quar- antne from the ship Glddon,
third infected packages of clothing and baggage from
vessels The Doctor then alluded to the visitation ~
yellow fever at Bay Ridge and Long Island shore IN 1856
should be isolated under all circumstances but as the
dus Of ts infection very short need not be source
of any danger 10 the community when the isolation
is perfectly and faithfully Effected the direct public ferry
communications with the Quarantine establishment have
been repeatedly used by patients sick with the smallpox
and other infectious diseases and OF smallpox voun
arly made their way the ferry boats on tho as boat
from New York 10 the Marine Hospital and were admit
ted PATIENTS these afu state OF eruption
he same with black WON'T, nc. t1he witness alluded "
of OF the clerks Of the New York Bank who re-
urned 10 Staten Island every evening and who NJ
aeked with slnalnuxl There also another gentle.