The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-13
The Lower Quarantine Anpoy.nce.

The Lower Quarantine Annoyance.
The present system of management at the lower Qua
rantine, and which has prevailed since its commence
ment, is shameful in the extreme
Floating Hospital has been stationed in the lower bay
to receive all malignant of yellow and other fevers
Vessels arriving from infected ports are compelled to
anchor near by the hospital those sick there
and the vessel fumgated Such are often lying
there number of hours before being boarded by tho
Health Officer thereby giving the disease chance work
its fearful progress. Then, when boarded, formula
is gone through, exhibiting great carelessness,
as foilows:-One or two of the Health Officers boat
men go on board the infected vessel penetrate the hold
forecaste and cabin in order umgate thereby enter
the very regions of the disease where the malaria
most abounds. Upon getting through they come upon
deck and assist in getting the virulent cases of
yellow fever board the tug and again assist them on
board the hospital; after which they return home
mnging with the people and residing with their families
Such facts as these should the of the public
and seen to at once by the Board of Health Furthermore
there is no system Of medical treatment nursing of
such patients For instance, the Health Officer, upon
getting the sick a. the hospital leaves them without pre-
scrbing while there is but the shipkeeper on
board. An instance OF this description occurred on
Sunday 1lh inst Upon that day three infected vessels
arrived in the lower bay, vz:-British ship Surnam,
from Havana; Bremen bark Fides from Havana and
British brig Laura, from St Domingo city. Upon the
former vessel one death from yellow fever had occurred
while the entire crew, with but two exceptions
were sick-one being in the last stages (black
vomit). Upon the second vessel (Fidcs) three
deaths had taken place, and others sick. Upon
the last vessel Qaura) there were no deaths but the
captain his first officer and number Of the had
been, and some were then sick, the pilot and
having worked the vessel alone from the night previous
The worst from these vessels eight in ally
transferred to the Floating Hospital where they
ceived by the ship keeper only, there being other
on board, the physicians and nurses all being at
their homes or in the city among those SICK and put
wife and two infant children, there to remain unattend
ed until the return Of the physicians and nurses,
who had not reached there up to halfpas six last
ing. This meho of working the lower Quarantine is dis
graceful. The sick unattended, while those whose duty
it is DO there aud nowhere else, minglipg with
the commany-they Ohe people, being totally ignorant
that death and disease stalking in their midst There
was also Of black vSmit on board the Surinam,
which was handled and rehandlen, and The person 50
handling II allowed TO Immediately p.ncceed home
and associate hinse;f with tho pubic An...her
instance, showing the ineficency of somebody
in authority, made manifest last week
ship the Mcssenger) from Havana arrived some time
since at the lower Quarantine and declared be in
spectcd Her captain was allowed to TO the city,
while her remained board for day tive. The
crow were then taken from the ship and discharged
whereupon some four men were put on board as ship
Keepers. The vessel after lying there few days,
permitted to to the city, and after being al The
wharf some time 1.-THE ship being previously discharged
it discovered that the vessel was not yet in healthy
condition, and she then sent back 10 the Lower
Quarantine. II subsequently ascertaned that those
shipkecpers with but exception. had contracted the
OF them being in the last stages Of that fearful
disease. Now, If this of management Is still pur.
sued with the weather that have. it is to be feared
that this terrible malady will make It's appearance in
city.