The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-14
The Lower Quarantine Troubles.
CARD FROM HEALTH OFFICER DIR. THEODORE wALsHa,
TO KDfroR or rHB HERALD,

Permit TO correct your statement in this mosnins's
issue relative TO the Lower Quarantine and let an nteh.
gent pubic fudge If the present ~system and manage
ment' ia really so shameful represented. As my
daily habit, when the presence Of vessels require my
Visits, went to the Lower Bay Sunday afternoon beard
ing all the vessels my way down. The first visited
was the brig Lama from St. Domingo city. The captain
mate and three Of the lila careful examina-
lion proving II, however not yellow fever but bilious
rettent peculiar to st. Domingo and the mahogany re-
gon directed therefore, the pilot anchor the vessel
about enc mile above tho Floating Hospital promising
return for the sick and the passengers Mr. Fsber United
States Consul and family my way to the city. vents
crew. having previously learned from the captain who
had arrived in the hospital boat at the Upper Quarantine
yellow fever on his homewasd passage from Havana All
On board were apparently we'll Going hence board the
Snrnam, found the captain and his wife convaescent Of
yellow fever willis their little daughter y suffered from
the rs stages Of the disease directed their immediate
removal to s Floating Hospital together with Of the
crew already in the last stage Of the disease Az
correctly stated in your paper my boatmen assisted in
the removal Of the SICK and afterwards fumgatcd the
vessel. After seeing the sick sailors as comfortably
lodged board the boat circumstances would admit
Of, returned on board the ship, carried the sick child
to the boat and kept it m my arms unt arrival
board the floating Hospital comfortable bed had been
made ready for It's reception.
The sick sailors IN the meantime cared for by the
male nurse and before left the hospital had not only
carefully examined into each individual on board
but prescribed for it as circumstances required Had
have done for any of the patients that time and
would not have left them then il had been assured
that the nurses board (and not the shipkeeper
enormously stately would do all for them That was
CURED until the physician of the hospital turned The
decision Of the Quarantine Convention Of 1860 relative
the personal contagion Of yellow fever certainly my
own conviction, based upon medical literature well
my own experience during eight years service Quaran
tine. ! therefore apprehend not only danger from
the sick coming from infected vessels, but certainly
could not believe that the infection could be
carried by myself, my employees, to our homes
or the community ut large. l am aware of the
possibly fatal consequences to ourselves Of visit
to the cabin and forecaste OF infected Ship but
not believe that could become the carriers and dis
Of the disease to others Universal experience
is opposed to such apprehension In reference the
ship Messenger beg TO state that she arrived from Ha
whore she had only remained eight days and re-
ceivod cargo whatever, with twenty seven Of her
crew we'll on board. She remained quarantine seven
days. and none Of the employees sickeping during
that time considered FREQ from Infection and there
fore permission granted To her proceed the Erie
Basin TO be laid till fall provided Of her ballast
should be removed aud only allowed on board.
When subsequently found that two OF her spkeepers
had sckencd we Immediately recalled her In conclusion
may add, that have not only to contend with very
imperfect facilities to carry out the quarantine laws but
with many groundess apprehensions against which NO
laws whatever could adequately provide We may fail
best efforts to preserve the public health but if we
do it will certainly not be from wul neglect nexpe-
rence in duties but from influences entirely beyond
our control. THEO. wALSER, Deputy Health 0Mcer
QUARANTINE, August 10, 1861.