The New York herald., 1867-03-15
THE CHOLERA.


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Meeting Of the Board of HcRlth-Dangers Of
the Epidemic In 1S61-Neccssity of t;ustra-
ing Against its Introdactinu-A Suitable
Quarantine Station Necessary, &c.
The Board Of Health met yesterday ar.ernooa, Presi-
dent Schultz in the chair.
The Sanitary Committee made the following important
report upon the great Of quarantine station for
cholera stricken emigrants at this port, aud the imi
nent danger 10 the metropolis the coming summer by
the advent OF tho disease
The Sanitary Committee deem It to their duty TO in.
form the Board OF Health that there just reason TO he
leve that epidemic cholera will appear hero during
month OF May or June next.
Whether the disease which existed last year has lett
germs noush behind TO generate fresh pesence this
spring is question that no one answer 74e rain,
and frost Of severe winter il is hoped have
destroy them But on the supposition that such
bc the fact shall still be exposed TO
tons OF cholera froua Europe. Cholera is extinct
Europe and have just reached us of preya-
lence III tho island OF Guernsey, and IL almost
iutcly certain that IL viii be brought to this
arrive in New York This notable FACT, q. least,
deserves he presented 10 the attention the Board
that cholera appeared last year in the metropolitan
Health district until after arrival or vessels N ina
port with the disease board Last year decided
act upon the theory that cholera was conmonicable
through the cvscraohs of the patents and they by
mcsns convey ed TO the land, whether through
soiled clothing the dirty bodies Of the Immigrants
should have pcstilence: bu. If could wash the na
senger and cleanse and dsnfect their cln hing pest
lence would be avoided The experience derived last
our beei IN the truth Of our theory.
1t s well known that no efficient quarantine establish
ment existed then In New York-ncr does ~ now exist.
The patients trans the floating hospa, or
detained in hulks or on board Of the sscs in which
coud be made for bathing or for disinfec Inc heir bag
gage II became nlreiatively necessary, Il wished
q exclude the disease from tho district and country,
select some place or shore with ,ho proper
convenences for prrlicatior, where, after short
detention, the immigrants might be forward
ed 70 their destination without carrying DIS
case with them. The Commissioners of Quarau-
tine, Emigration and Health were Of ono mind on
this subject and acted IN concert. The general govern
ment was applied to fer the of Sandy Hook, and
then Of Pedloes Island, but the request refused
Barren Island was exarniued but found unsuitable for
the purpose Of its being used receptacle
for dead animals Coney Island wos suitable in Eiany
leased by the town Of Graveaend. win the condition
that should not be used for quarantine pnrposes We
s nsa some nnsa w s f @ tie
State; and, after preparing them for the purpose,
obliged by the decision Of the court to rcinquish
possession Of them. Defeated In Efforts to savs
the country from pestilence, turned
fighting the disease wherever 1t appeared, and with
what success has now become matter Of history.
1t our honest opinion IL was then that mi dch,
II not ALL the cholera nigh. have been prevented il
patients. whom attached TO clothing, that which
has beer packed away in trunks Is believed to have the
with moisture and suitable temperaturc and It upon
this superstition that We explain the oureaks OF the
epidemic places In the interior froni ports
where tie immigrants have landed.
Proper disinfection OF this clothing would have de-
etrOycd the poison oud saved thousands OF lives
AS ships continued to come with cholera the huks
not numerous enough 10 accommodate the passen
and they were nccessarv detained on the vessels
In which they arrived The we'll thus exposed
sshe Infection and many died On occasion, when
tho weather was tempestuous the dead could not bc
transferred TO the land for burial, and the community
outraged at the spectacle Of the well sick and dead
all crowded In narrow space, within SIGHT Of the shore,
which constantly threatened them. The slekeepcrs
poweess 70 enforce order, and the excited passen
gers were mutnous and threatened to set re 10 tho
and eacau In
made several occasions to burn the ships, and wc
were IN constant fear that the passengers would force
tner way RATS the shore, and dissem nate the
cho.era, in their rashness destroy themselves with
tho that imprisoned them The public cried out
IN indignant tones that something should be done for
their r.scne, and the Board OF Health Deset by
anxious fricnds who begged that they might be set on
sbore In instance the President OF the Board
offered Ire whole fortune Of father II lie would berac
his only children, and daughter, WHO although in
perfect health thus detained board OF infected
fhp and In danger OF taking the dsease Il is
right recall thesc horrors disgraccl 70 civz
ation fos they VIII occur again ne com n scssos unless
passengers fhe Board Of Health Is powcress. aud 30
are the Commissioners Of Quarantine aud Emig alton.
The whole matter has been referred 10 the Legis.a
ture, and t alone be held responsible for tho
evils that nay follow from indifference neliceII
action We cannot tell whefher the expected cholera viii
DO mid aud manageable, Il was last year, whether
it with the Dimensions OF widespead and de
s,ructive pesence Thls know thai II IL s..ould
a violent form the trade and commerce Of New
York will be all but ruined Strangers Will avoid the In
viii he sscced by Sy the Thousands where last year ey
were los, by hundreds II IL should come, tho Board Of
Health v M wi b looked 70 for help reode WI cry out
che power why did you not say 60 10 tine In order that
m gnt make prelaraonf We have no wish TO incur
.heryfors focl IL 10 be duty now raso alarm
before he ev has arrived and call upon the Legislature
shore where Immigrants be qusrantiDed in order TO
save the country from the expected psstilencs.
Iss 70 .sS Sas .ss s G ss ss we sss
in broad and generous spirit and provide
manifested to the warnings those who from their
knowledge the discs.s oughs especially % be ened
10 Thus rssolason has osen % onessa - N sne G Asemoy
time purposes Such selfish legislation viii surely result
in no, providing any place on shore The m1aIgranss
viii be ovcrrun with pcslilencs. committee ought to
appointed BY the LEGISLATURE With power % select the
srarnn,eis whatever Then the abundance Of good
irinxng water the convcniences Of bathing
ebily by sssanboats and reotcness from hickly IN
bsbitcd villages &C. would alone influence tboir choice
we would again repeat that the Board Of Health have
now il. Our duty Is now done, and wc would. in
conclusion invite and the citizens 10 stimulate th
Legislature 70 wss ss.ion and nVs 20 os,av 70 aaop,
and country from psstilenee x-o~,~ :,
WILLARD PARkEB, NJ. D.,
f# JAMES CRANE, N. d.,
Sanitary Committee
Commissioner BERGEN said that ho in favor Of the
adoption Of tho report but that he did not think that
the committee was Justified IN assuming sn tue choicA
would bs In our midst the coming summer Tho dsease
broke out In this country in 1892 and did not recur until
two wears afterward and II did NOT fotw tnat because
tho cholera had ragged here IN the summer 1859, "
wou ID Of certainly BE- here In tho summer Of 1851 As
good m nedica man daughter he would not base his
reputation on any such assumption.
Dr srosx sefd that the committee were not certain
,at cholera would come, but n their duty 20 say
that they had treason 10 believe" the disease would
come.
We VERMONT RAILROADS AND THE LEGISLATURE.
MosrrEIlsR, W, March IA, 1867.
Governor Dillingham; has issued proclamation con.
vcning the Legislature In extra session on The 9th
inst, The object Is TO afford roief TO the southwestern
inn of fha Siatc rhare naonlc havc boon cut OF from