The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-30

Il "a web knowp that persoos iaec,ed vbe psgus
were % general rule, removed from crowded weiings
and carried INTO he open arr Publication Of tne osass
articles used BY Infected persona
INTO The system OF treatment but this ru'e for tms
relaxed aud utter Sards reasserted aud rgay
II were Consistent with the OBJECTS OF tnis report
mary interesting details might be given OF tho prosress
Of the restrictive system snd OF the laws passed by Off
teent countries to enforce IL. tho punishment imposed
for the nfracon frequently beng severe even 70 the
infection Of death upon the violsors Of Quarantine reeu
iations.
Strange may appear 1t il nevertheless true, that
the Laws Of our own State, aud the regulations under
founded upon precse,y the same theories thoss
prevailed In the unenlightened times when medical
Science had existence .. all, was IN i,s infancy
port no contagious dsease smallpox the measles
and possibly phus fever and yet for the reason that
ago, We lock up ports against under the
futile apprehension that yellow fever 10 contagious
disease.
Every merchant Interested In this subject should exam
Inc for hnfef; 1t ID too extensive TO be discussed 10
hastily written report Of this character carefully
ranged popsw OF the statutes Of State applying
this case, together with many interesting suggestions
regard 10 the general subject, prepared some two
years SINCE published in one OF the aay journals oy
learned, INTEL gent, and public spirited citizen Of New
York, Mr. De VIA boodeo0d 70 winch reference should
be made BY ose who desre TO investigate the subject In
Two high foreign authorities may be referred 10 In
ference 70 the theory Of infectious diseases aud the advan
Britain, md the celeSrated DuPeyrcn Secretary Of The
Board Of Health Of Franco, have largely and ably dis
cuseed these TOPICS and may aaey Dc inferred from
their writings that the spread Of psGien diseases is
materially affected by The circumstances which attend the
communication between the s,ok and the we'll, fact
which properly understood may explain the essential dr.
iereDces existing between the ooniasionins and
Geathy persons, Of good habits m pure air. and in
good condition pbysioogicaY undoubtedly are safe from
infection by contact with diseased person. with
his we'll worn clothes, whe under different circumstances
and In an infected sate Of the atmosphere danger might
ensue 10 persons not properly guarded.
s pretty well settled that many articles Of do.
ing copsaeon; wbs there others which not In.
noxors, and are consequently made tho special SUBJECTS
OF depuraion; and yet asserted by Du Peyron that
this process Of purifcsten has never been known to
affect the person engaged in and that the poison
bias been transmitted through goods not brought
contact diseased persons Although letters are
elaborseiy fugated in the Meditera ports and
strctve rules against free correspondence insisted
with great perrnacy, yet no instance is upon record
chappel, when publication had been omitted
In this enlightened age, whep sciepce has revealed
many remedial secrets. yhen the m.teria medica has
. range and power never before known; when ana
tony, pbyeoloey ard pathology have assumed tie
peeneeN fahS IN the arts Of preserving health ard
NE, may well be corsiderod whether it be not just
these restrictions, which, In the darkness Of the early
sgee prevailed in relation " diseases supposed to be con
tsPious
commerce, which s the handmade Of science, has a
right to insist q modification OF these autiquased
opinions, and TO enlist In Der favor the scientific dis
coveres OF the agc. It lis believed that while proper
restrctiors may be placed on what 10 actually dan
ger0uE-as expressed by the term "fomites"-there
should be complete relaxation Of restrictive rules In other
respects.
from the confined and impure atmosphere OF the vessel,
and instead OF being imprisoned within the limits
o. Quarantine station they should at once after proper
cleansing and changing Of rsmsnt be allowed free egress
into the pure air Of the country or 70 their customary
places Of residence.
The question Of safety in regard TO clothing and bed.
ding, ano srcles Of merchandise which by medical ad-
vice brought under the Of fomites different
one and must Re treated with due regard 70 the lights
which science and experience have granted to us.
demed !, y, b THAR d,,u heyor ,; v =, ;ne
at any oe6pte conclusions In regard to the scientific
points involved 70 invite the attendance 81 their
irRs Of number OF the Eost eminent members Of the
medical rofessioD in CITY, with the view TO elicit
their opinions the several questions under examins.
ti0p.
The invitations were promptly and cheerfuly responded
TO- and the committee have nov 70 return their cordial
acknowledgements to the following gentlemen, namely
Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, DR.. John W. Sterling, DR.. AL.
fred G. Post, Dr. Eisha Barrs Dr. Alexander n Gum,
Health Officer, and DR. Jecediah Miller Health Commits.
given by them 10 The committee in the Course OF the
animation OF the subjects treated herein.
81 50 ss asy
the appendix to this report.
In reply to certain questions prepared by the Health
Commissioner to the Quarantine practice to
BE- II
Harris, and in part from Doctor Sterling, with the
questions are marked A, l., II H., and ".
Certain general Questions Of the committee in regard to
are replied to by Doctor Harris, marked B. l.
valuable paper by Doctor Sterling the subject OF
wet docks In connection with Quarantine, marked B. H.
The oral testimony and explanations given before the
committee, sketch Of which was taken by one OF their
number marked L. and the record Of the vote in the
National Convention Ia marked D.
These papers and the recorded testimony will found
to contain OF useful information the result OF
scientific research and long experience medical
SUITS which deserves and win justify the public cona.
dence The statements Of facts end the opinions founded
thereon arc entitled ID 4 careful consideration.
mony il Proper 70 remark that ali Tie eminent prsct-
TONERS before the committee united In the general senti
ment a. to the unnecessarily restrictive regulations
hitherto adopted in maintaining the Quarantine At this
The health Officer and the Health Commissioner were
frank and liberal In the given by them TO the
official engagements under VIII Oh they about be
called ON 70 act and the committee have every
believe that 20 far az the action Of these officers is
cerned in the administration OF existing laws the pubc
interest VIII not suffer from any avodabe restraints or
burdens.
While warmly commended by the latter officer, DR..
Miller, that the existence Of restrictive system OF qua
rantne 10 regard 10 vessels and has been manly
instrumental in preserving the city nom the invasion OF
infectious ePidemcs for number Of years past Yet he
with equal frankness and candor concedes pfopriors
Of Jetpg The restraints upon passengers cfeWs
veAsels rssLapg under tuspoion OF yellow fever.
This concession from experienced and intelligent
officer Of the department., charged with administrative du-
ties under Il, important step progress tbs right
dEecton. The removal OF quarantine restrictions from
the persons Of the sick and the WE'LL except temporarily
In cases. will greatly relieve overtaxed int
rebte OF commerce ana give muC0 &feotof freedom
energies in the future.
viii now be necessary to consider how far existing
Testricocs should be modified in regard and
passengers Sick or In danger Of infection from smallpox
yphus fever or cholera In reference to frs. named
disease, II is unfortunately almost always rife in our
midst and the regulations Of Quarantine no more
for the protection of the community against Its ravages
than 10 keep the we'll who pass through ts bounds
from danger Of contagon by vaccination and place the
sick Al the earliest practicable moment within the nfu
Of good air and udicious treatment For these OBJ
jects Institutions admirably arranged and managed are
established under the municipal government and be
resorted 10 at an hours notice.
Typbus fever maady To be dreaded, and under GER
tain unfavorabe circumstances than either OF the
diseases mention ed In unwholesome places, aud espe
ciay In uhcleaby and infected vessels, Ia a fearful
enemy Of human life. 1t should rarely, ever be connn
ed within the close bounds OF quarantine station longer
than ndpenssby necessary for tbs publication Of per-
and clothing and the removal to more appropriate
commodatiors.
The like remarks will apply 70 cholera In regard to
which dsorder confinement should rarely be resorted TO-
This is malady TO be found only where iocaixng cond
tons, that favor M prevalence exist as shpboard in
filthy dwellings, In pestlent atmospheree, where large