The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-07
IMPORTED PESTILENCE.
Cholera and Yellow Fever-The Former on Its
Westward Way-The Quarantine Officials
Ready to Meet and Fight 1.-THE
Yellow Fever from the South.

In view Of the serious nature of the dispatches
received from Europe within the past few days III
regard to the spread OF the cholera and OF its hav-
Ing made Its appearance at Hull, England. HERALD
reporter was despatched TO obtain the opinion of the
officials at Quarantine and also what preparations
were being made to resist IL II 1t should come.
The Health Ohicer entertained the opinion that II
1t should arrive 1t would not be before next Novem-
Der or next spring, and that the preparations now
being made would be found sufficiently ample in
case of necessity to keep 1t from the city.
The engineer ana Commissioners OF Quarantine
had received orders to erect temporary buildings at
the upper OF the two islands at Lower Quarantine
for the accommodation OF those who are not sick,
but who have been exposed to the disease either upon
the voyage or at the port from which they came ON
the hospital ship Illinois there are accommodations
for $50 or 200 PATIENTS which will be used for those
suffering from the disease. 1t is now occupied only
by Dr. Mccartney, the boarding officer, and the
crew; 1t was thoroughly overhauled last winter and
is kept in the neatest order. Those who may be
taken sick Will also be placed In the West Bank Hos
pital, on the lower island, where there be ac-
commodated $50 more patients. Every thing here Is
kept scrupulously clean and In perfect order.
AS soon as the telegraph announces the appear
ance OF cholera in any port on the other side vessels
arriving from those
INFECTED PORTS
will be detained at Lower Quarantine, about ten
miles from the city while the slightest vestige of
the disease remains, and then their clothes and bag
gage will be thoroughly cleansed and fumigated be-
Tore they VIII be allowed TO come up TO the city.
Experience shows that where the passengers are
50 detained there but little danger OF the disease
spreading, Vessels can be so completely disnected
as to prevent the carrying Of the disease after they
have been relieved from Quarantine. The cholera
poison Is completely destroyed and vessels have re-
embarked their passengers after such NmigatiOn
and nothing serious mas followed.
Some idea OF the advantages derived from Quar-
antine may be obtained by examining the follow
ing figures taken from official data In 1882 90 cases
were detained at Quarantine and there were 3,5l2
deaths in the city; in lS49, 23O cases were at Quar-
anime and 5,O7l died in the city; in 1854, the
th0ritles had AIS persons suffering from the disease,
while I'm the city there were $500 deaths from the
epidemic; COS cases were placed IN the hospital at
West Bank, while l21O deaths took place in the city.
The authorities Keep a continued surveillance over
the details OF the department. One fact shows that
out OF 900 emigrants visiting this port during the
last three months not a single case OF disease was
allowed TO pass INTO the city,
In place of CARRYING passengers around in open
boats, as formerly. they have now at their disposal
two tug boats one to carry patients and the OTHER to
afford The Health Othcer expeditions communication
between Upper Quarantine and New York
From June until November the pilots are fur
nsned with cards containing the names Of all III
RACES and directed TO take che vessel to Lower
Quarantine and remain on board until the vessel has
been boarded blythe Health Officer.
When the representative ofthe HERALD visited the
West Bank there thirty vessels OF all kinds
Ch0red near the hospital ship which had arrived
from some of the South American or West Indian
ports. Although the disease had only made its APP
pearance upon one Of them they Will be detained
sufficiently long time to satisfy the authorities there
is no disease lurking on board. Although 1t is
raging to an alarming extent at some places, yet so
1t has been entirely confined to the Lower Quaran-
tine.
When cholera made its appearance here before
there was only an Old hospital ship IN the Lower
Bay for the reception OF patents. Now III case 1t
should come, they can, as has been stated above,
accommodate between four hundred and ave hun
dred patients, should 1t become necessary, though
the authorities do not think that 1t wills but II 1t
should, 1t could be confined to Quar- antlne ana kept
from the city.