The New York herald., 1869-05-02
QUARANTINE.

Utter Want OF Efficient and Honest Man.
agement In Our Chief Defence Against For-
eisn Epidemics-How DIR. Swinburne Takes
the Matter--Necessity for u New Health
Officer.
Amonth hence the summer heats will begin to be
felt the air will become anguid and suggestive OF
fever; people will be flying to the seaside and
wherever else purity and freshness OF atmosphere
can be found. Not till then will the citizens of New
York begin to realize the possibilities OF plague
ing introduced in their midst the perfect defence
lessness to speak. OF their position against the
insdous and fatal assaults Of foreign epdemcs and
not till then will the OF warning be listened TO-
and precautions vigorously adopted to repel the in
visible invader. In the discharge of its duty, as
the sentinel on the watch tower, looking forth
for the approach OF The enemy In any
guise, or with any motive whether to un-
dermine the liberties, destroy the happiness
or endanger the lives OF American citizens, the
HERALD desires to anticipate the season OF plague
and infection by calling attention to the dlapidated
and wretchedly inenective system OF defences we
have in the Notifications at Quarantine. 1t Is enough
that the public should only bear In mind the expose
of inef1cency and mismanagement in the affairs OF
Quarantine, which this paper alone published last
year to place people on their guard against trusting
TOO much to our Health OHlcer and his set OF en-
poyes for the proper guarding against the fearful
visitation OF plague There need, OF course, be no
alarm now, but wise and prudent people do not
wait for the actual occurrence OF apprehended
danger TO provide against its consequences.
Let us see what kind OF arrangements
we have at Quarantine in case tomorrow
plague ship lay in our harbor. Operations have
nOt YET De a ae s n tg wer Uay out IN e
stand. Take the instance OF the James Foster. An
ambulance steamer, well known to the people who
nave anything TO do with Quarantine, the Governor
Fenton. was employed to convey the passengers from
the infected vessel. Some OF the sailors on that ILL.,
fated concern were taken to the Sailors Retreat
Clifton, where most OF them eventually ded. This
| steamer, which Is just as much OF plague as any
once fumgated as it should have been after ali the
| work 1t performed, but was Still employed TO
board board vessels Of al kinds coming into the
still cnging to its timbers. Morris Rogers, engineer
Of this ambulance steamer, was finally taken III with
the same disease that was so marked character
istic OF the James Foster, and this, be it remem-
bered, several weeks alter the passengers and
| or that vessel had been removed. Rogers was re-
moved to his residence, In a tenement house near
the first landing. His vile attended to him night
lrated with the disease that afflicted her husband.
Both are now lying at the point OF death. The neigh
James Foster plague has made Itself at0t felt ali over
| staten Island. The natives dread the ap-
p0aSa Of sum%er they Sov might the day
OF that ship fever which spread such havoc through
the hold Of the James Foster are sown in their
! midst and that warm summers sun Will ripen
them into all their appalling ruitfulness. At Clif.
| ton. the second landing on Staten Island from New
appearances a healthy and handsome location. TO
| this place DIR. Swinburnes boat conveyed some OF
these Injected cases embraced In the crew OF the
James Foster. Poor fellows they should certainly
have been given every possible care and attention;
but could they not have been provided for just US
Wen In location not quite 80 central not quite SO
much IN the very heart OF the vilage-the town you
might amost call it-where a number OF people
badly frightened already with the horrors OF that
lated emigrant ship were just in the proper con.
ditlon mentally and physically, TO catch the conta-
lowing those sailors OF the James Foster VINO were
not actually stricken down with the disease, but
whose clothing could not possibly have escaped from
the Infection that perneated the vessel, to stroll
around the streets at the various landing on Staten
Island, drinking In beer saloons, sleep in boarding
| houses ana live among the people, without
remonstrdnce9 This Is not quarantine. Mr. Oge
chaplain 10 the Sailors Retreat young man greatly
admired and respected fell a victim 10 the lanes
Foster fever while administering spiritual comfort
10 the sailors or that unfortunate vessel Ills wife
waited upon HIM In his sickness, and she too was
now PROSTATE herself Mr. Webster, steward OF the
sailors, Is also lying dangerously III. DR.. Swnburne
endeayored to persuade people that this was nothing
but ordinary vphold lever, and took every precau.
ton 10 suppress whatever mght lend to arouse pub
nc attention to the actual danger. DIR. John Feeny
however one OF the physicians employed at quar-.
antine, gentleman who held his profess
slona ,l reputation as OF some value, re.
the case and, natly pronounced the disease al ship
lever 10 us most deadly form. This, Of course,
created little unpleasaniness, and Teeny belno a
subordinate had either TO take Swinburne's view OF
the matter or resign. lie accepted the latter cou-
lngency, ana IS no longer connected with an inst-
tuition which oDiges men TO fOrswear their conyic
! tons 70 advance the unscruDuous interests or an
individual TO whom the health OF the people OF New
Grafton. Dr. swinburne at this particular
season seas 0, & the year, ought in all Conscience
anairs In his department, but we gnd
hi thai ne deems II perfectly sufficient to come down
nei; , ~ noa aiDany On SATURDAY, pay Few hours
visit 70 Quarantine, look after MS dues anu start
back on Monday again 10 Albany
Governor Holman can perform very great serv.
Ice indeed 10 the Citizens OF New York by the an.
| polntment OF q man as Health Oficer who will
address himself solely to the work OF Keeping the
injection OF foreign vessels arriving In our harbor In
| the heated months away from contact with our
| people Every desDotic government OF the Old
| World makes this one OF ITS most particular
cares. Why should the lives OF American
citZens lie considered less valuable than
those OF European serss when Operations
in the lower bay Commence then the season of pan
@ aer Us lihtateu Every vessel has TO pay tribute 10
.he pacia OF Qusrantlne. They tell good story on
staten Island OF how the Health Oiicer took fancy
10 pig on board West indian vessel that lay last
summer sun M ,I N ne lower bay The captain. Of course,
his desire 10 have IT, but the trouble was 20 lower
the squaing and slippery young porker into the doc
the orders given Haul away ana aIowerP w apa na
doctor stood IN his loDgboat looking. with watcry
tbe rope slipped e AMI ogys getnss suddenly
legs through dropped into the water, while the doc
TOR, who made lunee forward to catch tue animal
In his arms. went over the gnnwale of the Dngboat
but was caught Just IN Line To escape complete
urenching.
All those In the employ OF Quarantine ana of Dr.
| SwInburne view the coming season a. their great
harvest They expect to make enough IN a few
| months from now to render them independent OF
consequences. But Will the people allow 50 momen-
| tots an interest as the wartng or OF plague that
| would devastate this island IN few weeks 10 re-
| main IN the hands OF q set Of Ignorant harpesf
|
THE OLDEST House IN THE UNITED srArEs.-Some
OF exchanges claim that the Oldest house IN the
| United states retaining its original form ~ 10 be
| NeuODSetf,
not about The year 1G40, and s still IN good repair;
but we are not willing TO accept tins as O iact for