The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-01

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Mr. feckham-l have put the simple legal question.
Did you see any one on either night aiding encouraging
| or countenancng the burnng2
Mr.. Anhon st objected to the word 'counenancing
on the ground Of ambiguity, but he would insist
| his objection.
| Mr.. Peckham then repeated the question
Wtnesslf the mere presence OF ndv can be said
TO be "countenancng,' certainly great many.
/ Q. Doctor, can't you answer my question plainly;
don't want to whether one apply the
torch9 A. mean to say that cannot swear saw any
person there commit an act that would implcate him in
the burning no person that knew in particular: saw
opposition manifested by the Quarantine authorities
O. Did you hear any one say anything?
Mr. Anthon objected Let the witness say what he saw
and what he heard. objection not pressed)
Winess-l heard nothing from any one; only saw a
| man throw a mattress in the fire.
The Court then took for hour-after which
DR.. VIM. Z. Anderson was called and examined by Mr.
Anhon as follows IL have been practising physician
for the last sixteen years Staten lsand was the resi-
dent physician Of the Seamans Retreat in 1sis during
that summer yellow fever prevailed on the island to the
extent of hundred and eighty cases. could say
precisely how many deaths there were; think about
per cent the fever extended from the northern portion
me Quarantine grounds vanderblts landng-rom the
house occupied by Mr. Lock, Custom House officer
then and by Major Frazer to the Vanderbilt haee it
was supposed that the yellow fever was brought the
large number Of vessels that were then anchor n the
sand-transport and other ships which had fI6rned
from the Mexican war and all had yellow fever; Is my
opinion that yellow fever be conveyed from vessels
to the shore; all casses of persons affected that
year male and female old and young from l84S 1856
there Of yellow feverspoadc cases showing
Infection in 1850 the fever extended from the house
farm house Of Mr. W. H. Aspnwa south Of the telegraph
station of greater range that year than in 154S
there were inland five hundred yards from
the shore but presume those persons that had took
from infected things along the shore Of opinion that
does not extend so far there fifty three in
1856 Staten Island and about twelve deaths there
two far Bergen Point, N. j. and
the bay at Brooklyn and New Utrecht; the cause, in my
opinion from the anchorage OF nfectedvesses in the
stream; during the past summer Tompknsvie, about
three hundred yards below the Quarantine ground
infected district New Brighton there four
OF yellow fever occurred at New Brighton
about the 18th of August the next point Townsends
dock below Vanderbilt landing, where it still prevails
there was death there yesterday previous to the
Sd of September l think there about thirty
cases Of yellow fever and ten deaths; have fire.
quently the iron when they were
burning articles in her; have seen her at various
distances from the shore enough smell the smoke
know that smoke has been waited over the buildings
situated near the shore; the scow also the New
Brighton side and the smoke frequently drove the people
from the fronts Of their houses my opinion the best
way Of propagatng infection is by the OF the iron
scow; can best explain that by stating what have
from vegetable poisons on the island in burning the
brushwood the isand there happens To be any rhus
rddicdnd among 1t, it will convey the poison around,
hence the burning of infected articles the will
cause the evaporation OF watcry PARTICLES which poi
son; believe the only mode of disinecting is by
frost and that is another why think that heat
would propagate IL for If frost the only mode Of dsn
fecng 1t heat Is the best way OF propagatng it, don't
know Of any where chloride OF lime has been Of any
use what understand by contagion is taking disease
By contac-onc person taking disease from another;
think yellow fever is an infectious disease arising from
an infected atmosphere small pox is contagious dis
ease cholera infectious aud atmospheric but
tagious in the small pox, measles,
| Sc.; yellow fever could be conveyed from
an injected atmosphere, or an Infected vessel
persons could communicate yellow fever from their cloth
ing without their having IL themselves Witness then de
tailed the OF fever at New Brighton which, in his
opinion, were caused by the parties walking near the
shore night and taking the infection from the fumes Of
tho scow," or infected materials floating about He
sdered the residents Of staten Island would bc free
from danger long as the iron used that IL
would be impossible for human sagacity to isolate the
Quarantine as TO render Staten Island Kings county and
| the shores around free from danger.
Cross examined by Mr. Pcckham-By Quarantine,
mean the anchorage and the entire establishment have
evidence, satisfactory 10 mysclf that the burning tho
scow caused cases OF yellow fever instance the
Of two girls at New Brighton heard from patients whom
! attended that IL was known fact that Kramer had
brought infected articles 10 his residence lsI3 whole
family .ickencd OF yellow fever at Clifton, only in one
not discover the cause, whether 4 was nom infected
vessels % Or not y ISIS IN my & own house, there
slept in room facing the with the window open all
night. and the next day they were taken sick.
To Mr.. Anthon-Yclow fever may bc taken by n per.
son washing Infected clothing 1t will rise in the steam;
Mt Tomlkns oroher-in law tsir. Gordonl died in lsis
the same ycar that Mr. Dc Forests sister died.
To Mr. Pcckham--I know that Mr. Gordon and Mr. De
FORESTS sister died of yellow fever know Of mode
Of disnectng except BY frost don't think have any
knowledge 81 mode OF dsni,ctng yet. the
sci Bnzzird was scuitlcd and shipped afterwards
who caught the fever the only way think OF dsinec,ng
steamer would be - let her steam 10 the Of La
hradur where she would be ccansed four or ve days
have not known or heard of any Of washerwomcn
taking yellow fever In the Quarantine grounds within the
past ten years except in 1856 have always advised my
patients not 10 bathe during the the shore
UT. X H. Thompson, Health Officer, then for.
and after lapse Of quarter of hour appeared court
and was cross examined by Judge Dean loows.-
my last examination stated thai favor Of the re.
mova Of Quarantine, and think now especially Qlaran
tine as to vessels, because deem dangerous the
citizens of Staten Island Brooklyn and New York would
anchor the vessels outside Of the Narrows my opinion
that from the sick have not much fear but think
would be well 10 have the sick vessels cargo below
the particular danger however from the vessels and
cargo provided the anchorage below there is no
rea'cn why the sick might not be brought up
s nS m Sc oScd n Sew s York sSsb,s oavn r The
Garden nigh, make good place for hospital, maic
public speech on the island two years ago The subject
c the removal cf Quarantine generally In favor OF that
view q the question: that before my ro appointment
as Health onceri such has been my opinion since the
u Would II then be foolish expenditure 10 rebuild
these hosphal@ A. ! cannot tell d they going TO
be removed Il would be.
ofccr ''''''
~. Thomrson-r don't answer as Health oaccr, an.
swcr as Witness Il the hospitals to be removed Il
would be.
Examination eontinucd-Thcrc is a law requiring all
vessels coming from foreign ports 10 be visited that Law
has been in existence about years aud was nsru
mental procuring the passage Of that act before that
vessels we're boarded, some every two months others
yearly and others not at all board ali these vessels that
come - now the fee for boarding vessel dollars
and a half
Mr. reckham ohiccted-Ic did not suppose there was
any infection IN the fec
Judge peanI don't mean 10 show that the fec was in
fcctcd at all Uaughtcr)
Examination con,nucd-some few Of these vessels come
in from the Fast these boarded there i no station 10
az the Custom House
q What Is the object of having vessels coming from
Nova Scotia boarded IN the wntcry no they bring infcc
tious dseascp A. Yes, sir sometimes smallpox
Examination resumcdI cannot cay what object the IL.
esaturc had in rrssing the law rcmcmbcx the Ham.
burg steamer Dcuchand that arrived cUQs5s with
smallpox patients on board don't remem fGhat the
patients were taken from her before she to Castle
Garden do not rccollcct Tint persons werN down
from her with smallpox after her going NJ toNew York IN
1856 spent my time half In Albany aud half at New York
Y Did your duties as Health Of1ccr require your pre-
soncc at Albany
Mr. pcckham objected
Judge Dean said that that would shew a was nuisance
fit proved hatQuarantinc not properly managcd
the Health Occr, the principal officer being absent and
negligent of his duties.
The Judge said the question not rclevent
Examination contnucd-I cannot say how many prrsona
died a yellow fever within the enclosure: believe thrtv
SIX died but cannot give the precise number accurately
saw the harricadc that erected by the Castleton
Roard Health have remembrance az wing ~ anv