The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-19
THE NEW QUARANTINE BUILDING


Interesting statistics-Tho New Hospital
structures in tho Lower Bay--L0cation,
Descriptions, Cost, &c.
The sanitary condition OF city ID OF primary I'M
portanoe. When that city Is, like New York. great
commercial port ut which vessels arrive from every
cline. the quarantine laws designed to prevent
the Infectious diseases brought hther by foreign
vessels spreading among the people OF the city are
Of the very highest moment.
The most terrible OF the infectious diseases from
which large seaports most in danger are
yellow fever and cholera The former in partlcu-
lar. from It's peculiar character and the terri
bic rapidity with which death follows In
It's wake, has ever been regarded as the
most dreaded scourge OF mankind and
one against whose ravages 1t was for long time
believed medical science was powerless to cope.
Once the dreadful disease made its appearance in q
city. terror spread with the speed OF lightning
among the inhabitants, and those who could sought
safety In flight. The belief however, that yellow
fever Is an incurable plague has now died out
In the minds or the less educated portion OF
the community for In this city alone, where every
year vessels arrive from South American and West
Indian ports, which most subject to the epidemic
medical science Will be readily seen by reference
to the following remarkable statistics to have sue
ceeded In understanding the proper treatment OF
yellow fever
In the year 1Tos. when New York conta ned but
$1,000 inhabitants, between 2400 and $500 died or
yellow fever. In 1904 the number OF deaths in New
YORK from yellow fever 703. In 1905, out OF 900
cases 275 were fatal in 1922 out OF All cases re-
Inc year 1895, there were 732 deaths from yellow
fever while In 1898 no less tnan $500 died In the
same city from yellow fever. In 1856 Portsmouth.
Va which had population OF 4 900, lost 900 OF
them by yellow fever.
These figures show fearful rate OF mortality from
yellow fever compared with that OF the past six
years, notwithstanding that the population OF the
city has increased to over million OF souls Even
while injected vessels anchored in the upper
bay not case Of yellow fever reached the city from
Quarantine, though in few cases the injection ex-
tended to the staten Island and Long Island shores
1t was for this reason that In order still
greater security 70 the metropolis from the atmo-
detain all injected vessels In the lower bay
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD QUARANTINE LAWS.
Experiences has shown beyond all question that
quarantine laws It y true that, even az this day.
cinC nature Of the invisible virus Of yellow
fever but has been proved beyond doubt that light
! conditions which exclude these from the holds and
recesses Of vessels are those most likely to generate
vessel the means which VII best secure ample light
and air are Ne surest to prevent the malady having
fatal results and spreading over vide area trop
climate like that OF New York d Sufficient for its
Its dangerous vitality continues after the tr0p
zeal heat has passed away 1t u OF the utmost imp0r
lance that the quarantine laws Of the port of New
York be not only wise IN their spirit but carried out
with Intelligence and the utmost watchuness every
means being adopted by which the infectious vessels
yearly arriving here from other ports should be pre-
| vented from spreading the disease into the city.
the recent arrival In the port Of several vessels
terrible malady prevails with most destructive viru.
! lence alarming extent in South American and
West Indian ports renders the consideration OF the
means now at the command of the Quarantine
authorities here for the protection OF this city from
infectious diseases brought hither from foreign
ports
Foremost among these and, in fact, the great safe
guard Of this metropolis from the ravages Of yellow
lever as well as the guarantee for the recovery
Of the suffering victims OF that frlghtlui malady
who may arrive In the harbor of New York Is
THE NEW QUARANTINE HOSPITAL AT WEST BANK.
The fine hospital buildings at this place are now
exteriorly and almost intenorly completed, and the
establishment Is at present In condition. should the
accommodations on board the Illinois prove insult
cient to receive yellow fever or cholera patients.
visit to the new structure Saturday. In company
with DR.. Kenneth Reid, the able and indefatigable
assistant Health Officer OF the port revealed state
of affairs at West Bank highly important towards
preserving the multitudinous population of this
great city from the terrible ravages OF infectious dis
eases imported on shpboard.
West Bank IS long shoal situated in the lower
bay, about nine miles from the upper Quarantine
station, at Staten Island The new structure has
acres in area. Upon this shoal hrm foundation
has been raised TO about ten feet ABOVE high water
piles, surrounding them with stone aud earthwork,
and filling up the spaces In the most compact
ner until groundwork has been raised capable of
resisting the breakers OF the surrounding waters.
on TINS foundation then, the new hospital buildings
have been constructed. The site was admirably
where the pure sea breezes will renew
energy and life IN the poor human
beauty. Looking up the Narrows in the di-
rection OF great city, waters are dotted with
incoming
To the right stretch the unduating heights OF Long
lsland to the lett the beautiful wooded heights Of
Staten Island while, pursuing the coast line the eye
beholds dimIy afar Off the shores of the expansive
the promontory Of Neversink Situated at the en-
trance to Of the finest barbors In the world amid
invgoratng breezes and where the eye falls on the
most beautiful vlstas OF land and water, the new
hospitals at West Bank are admirably suited TO re-
WHY the poor sufferer from yellow fever cholera
THE NEW STRUCTURES.
The buildings are OF wood and cover two acres in
extent Instead OF buildings two stories In height
the pavilion style OF structure OF story has been
chosen. The buildings consist OF eight splendldiy
lighted and ventilated wards, eighteen feet apart
surgeons residence, inurses' apartments, dead
house and all the appurtenances necessary to an es
Enlistment capable or accommodating conveniently
800 yellow fever patients. Is hardly necessary to
state that patients suffering from this disease re-
and that, therefore, larger number Of cholera than
OF yellow lever patients can be accommodated at
West Bank. TIE wards are lss feet In length by "a
to it nurses room and elothescioset. The
dead house Is IL feet by 20 feet The super
slsIs Of double house 40 feet square and two
and half stories high. The wards run parallel to
each other transversely across the island, with fine
wide corridor passing transversey and leading into
each Of them.
The extreme length OF the main buildings is sos
feet inches, the greatest width 23l feet inches,
and the least 225 feet inches The side facing Long
Island Is 2S7 feet inches, and the opposite one 267
feet In length. Beyond this area are the baggage
house and deadhouse standing on a triangular
space, with corresponding unoccupied triangular
space on the other side OF the bank. The lighting
and ventilation OF all the buildings are admirable
and there are completeness and fitness OF arrange
ment about the whole structure that strike the
visitor very strongly.
COST OF THE WORK.
The original cost OF these structures to have
been $4,000, but owing to the necessity OF extend
ing the breakwater of large pieces OF rock around
the bank to the distance or forty instead OF thirteen
feet and to an additional length of twelve feet, an
extra cost Of S37 900 was required Accordingly the
whole appropriation was fixed at $500, 00D ana at