Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-30
The Cholera on the Steamship England.
STEAMSHIP ENGLAND,
- LOWER QUARANTINE. April Is, 1866,
70 ihe EhLLlr Of The NeAo York. Eclnld

To The Editor Of the New York Herald:
1t is with willing spirit and satisfactory pleasure
6at We the Undersigned accept the Invitation of
fered by rfcllow passengers-an invitation sng-
HeStlng an expression Of views regarding the dis
ease which, unfortunately has proved so fatalamong
lhe seerage passengers on board the England. T. is
not our intention to give medical dctaiment of this
diseaSecgeGerally conceded to be choera--lur the
9Rlect Of TINS letter woqld fail in the accomplish
ment Of its object should the matter be presented in
any other than plain, comprehensive manner,
leaving professional brethren 10 make thoi- own
deductions, while the general pubiicW be Informed
and probably enlightened
The steamer England left Liverpool tiarch Is last.
passengers, touching at Queenstown the following
day to take on board some three hundred mora
WIN tnis living cargo she put to sea- Upon the
second DAY out she experienced heavy gales causing
much sea sickness. violent in its character When i've
days out case OF sickness occurred which, from its
r2pid course and prqmlne symptoms. pronounce
ed cholera. From this time the disease spread among
lne Steerage passengers rapidly many falling victims
TO its fatal influence. To follow day hy dav tbe
course OF the disease IS unneceSsary suffice it 10 say
We deemed 1t advisable to put into the nearest mort
Tor assistance. Halifax being selected we made Mi
speed TO reach that port making it the morning Of
April y this time the disease wascarrying off scores
OF victims. Indeed time previously had il beem
20 tatai Those cases proving fatal died in much less
o!tne VI lnah those occurring while at sea. As soon
as we anchored in Halifax harbor measures were
Immediately taken by the officers Of the England to
aeoFg Ih9 passengers to other Quarters and, after
some Geiay on tho part of the Halifax officials II
was accomplished. The sick wern placed on board
an old hulk lying in tho harhor while all who M
peared well were landed on McNabb's Island tbrea
miles from Halifax where tents were nroyiI eS
tneGl- Inc weather at this time fine and quite
COOL aiding 10 dSslpate the disease 1t is remark
ape 10 observe the change which these measures
erected Those placed on Shore enjoying the benefit
ol iree pure arr remained perfectly we'll and save
lew cases, which doubt had their origin on shin
poaro l. e. began on board, every trace of the fatal
epla9mlc vanished, no new eases occurring How
was II on board the hospital shi97 We are sorry to
say nearly all who sent there even those slightly
sick when sent there died.
In TWO days the disease checked and corouered
by mere change of situation. The En GLAND yyoe
subjected to every approved mode of fumigaton and
after lying nine days in quarantine seven days of
winch time she was daily fumigated, she took on
poard the land passeng who now seemed spirited
ana gave every evidence Of robust health. Leaving
halllaX April 18th, the England weighed anchor aud
steamed for New York, after sixty hours reach
ing the Lower Quarantine, no cases of the disease
occurring route. The ship has now been in quar-
antlne since April 2 and up to this time no cases of
the iathl disease have shown themselves In our
opinion firmly believe the disease is as far rs
THIS ship Is concerned, completely eradicated
before concluding Ii is wish bring pointedlv
70 puonc ncnotlce few general observations viz: The
dlseaSe occurred first in that portion of the ship Tost
scantlly supplied with pure air. IL increased uDou
coming to an anchorage in Halifax harbOr and dis
appeared almost entirely when the passengers were
placed on the land. Finally, no cabin passenger
contracted the disease although constant intercourse
was aIioTed between the steerage and saOou. No
person VINO llYed IN gooG arr and enjoyed moderate
comforts took the disease, leaving US all to strongly
certify TO the nonGOntagiOuS character of this unEor
unate epidemic Sincerely hoping our effort will not
be lauure-an effort calculated 10 throw some light
upon subject now engrossing the attention of both
profession and pUEc-we have the honor to remain
DEAR sir, your Ubcdont servants
N. W. J. HEATH, NJ D..
Licenuate Royal College Of Surgeons. Ireland.
Or. albert koELGES, Germany
DR.. RICHARD THOMAS, Jr,
Late Surgeon United States Army