The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-17


island was carefully examined and decided to be
on the Island by special Inspector Dr. ]. G. Mott,
confirmed The opinion that the prevailing sickness
measures, in connection win the health ofecr. 10
have the sick removed to Quarantine, and recon-
maintained by the military aui ho1ties. In order to
the remaining troops anu residents from an at
tack Of the fever the Board on the tn OF October,
ment to take such measures as would inn
mediatey cause an entre evacuau n or Governors
Island OF al Its garrison and other residents, save
only such number as might lie absolutely necessary
Tor he protection OF property lett thereon, and in
ehectng The evacuation lie following measures were
Tec0minendel:-AIl clothing Llien wo by the gar
rison all bedding and other teXl fabrics then upon
be lett upon and undergo process or dsinfectioR
by steam heat. The Old wooden buildings known a.
the ..Campwomen's Quarters" ana the Row,
down and burned and the "a emeuts or cellars
sronns The Roard ~ a,so v,N sse thai ovepnors
Island remain vacated as garrison for troops, and
under strict quarantine restrictions, untii in the
Judg Ien or this B0aru anu OF the Meiica Director
OIL Inns Military Department the puoc health could
not be endangered by the reoccupalion OF said
Island. These recommendations OF Tile Board were.
not complied with. and as conseI uence, the fever
prevailsa until the ACTIVITY OF tae poison was de,
been attacked by the disease
TINS occurrence OF yellow fever In severe ana
faial form IN the precincts o. New York, after al
absence or nearly hair century, Instructive and
ueservin y OF the most serious Considerations In the
Aaliy devastated New York. anu IS late as io2l pre-
saied as q most fatal epidemic. Sllce that period
u mas 50 rarely extended Ueyond TIE limits or quar-
antne to have created the Impression that In this
latitude 1T VIII not AGAIN exhibit an cpilemic ten.
deney. Ile outbreak upon BAY hiIge Ia 1853 ana
Inc extreme fatality OF inc disease among the resi-
dents 81 tnat locality, and The occur ence Of the ep1
dcnic OF last summer upon Governors Is and, prove
contus yely tnat New YORK enjoys no special mmu-
nifty from yellow fever IN lis worst lorn. In order
tnat the lessons to be learned rom the outbreak or
ihis peslilence IN the narbor o New York may boz
thoroughly understood and made available TO tho
department, the Board Instructed special Inspector
Dr >. z. Nott gentleman whose large experiences
III the epidcmlcs or yellow fever in southern cities
renae.ed his services especially valuable 70 report
Y, on the causes OF the outbreak upon Governors
island The liability Of New York is reoccurfence,
and the sanitary precautions necessary botls
70 avert the Dcsuence ana to conroL
1t II ii should occur. The instructive re-
port OF this gentleman (see appelalx u shows
dein,c OF tls pestence rs iorneriy, anu points out
the preventive measures which VIII prove MOST
available. The experience OF TINS board on the OUT
break OF an epidemic at u military post, lmmedl
ate ana most dangerous proximity 10 the city, and
over which 1t had not tue silgntcst sanitary or po
lice control, suggests the necessity IN interests
Of The public health OF the city, mat military COM
manders at stations near 10. OF WITHIN the limits OF
the city, should be required report promptly all
Contagious diseases to The Health Department ana
to ENFORCE al sanitary regulations made ny the
While the military authorities have generally ex-
holted marked courtesy 10 TIE officers OF this board,
and MANIFESTED an earnest aesirc 10 cooperate In en-
needfui forcing sanitary legulatIcDs yet marked
exception occurred IN the OF lie epidemic
other circumstances, might have placed The city IN
great peril Sucn contingencies only be pre-
vented by an order from the War Department at
Washington, making the health ordinances ana
regu atoms OF the cy paramount TO all military
REGULATIONS.
%. Redpsing Psrei.-The past year was rendered
memorable by the appearance OF reldpslng fever IN
New YORK. This was the first recognized appear
OF this fever In this city, and its pnel omena
attracted mucn attention. from the medical profes.
sion, while the sanitary aspects or the epidemic
were carefully studied by the MEDICAL officers OK
Board. AituDu0u rpc0VuiZph
until January. II had undoubtedly been prevailing
TO limited extent for the Two Or three months pre-
cedlng having been mistaken Tor remittcnt, typhuS
and typhoid ievers. ny resolution OF the Board
THIS fever was declared 10 be OF contagious
ectlons nature within the meaning Of the fifth Sec
ton OF The Sanitary Code and Was lDcOrp orateds
with the diseases mentioned IN that section, and.
the same reporiS were required 10 be made m re-
spect TO said disease rs required relative to-
any disease mentioned In SAID section. The fever
moval OF the sick to hospital and THOR
ouch cleansing ana disiniecuon OF their
apartments became Indispensable, In the Judg-
nent Ur the Board, to control It's spread AS ,hs
fever, from Its contagious character, required sepa~
rate ana Isolated hospitals the Board requested the
commissioners OF Charities and Correction TO pro-
vice additional hospital accommodations, which
Fever Hospitsia was opened on IN nars Island. This
hospital proved 10 DO OF great service, Tor tue sub
when sick are proper SUBJECTS Tor hospital care.
Ther immediate removal TO Lhe hospital was there
lore OF aWoiod inheritance as tiey were thus pro-
The city Sanitary Inspector was e.apow cred to take
summary measures to insure the necessary cleans
Ing and disiniecton OF the apar ments occupied by
persons having this disease, whenever the owner
did not clean and dsinfect the pre- nises, and he
was authorized TO eXpend = sum not TO exceed ten
dollars IN any one house In cleaning, di,infecting
and whitewashing such house; aud IN each case he
was directed 10 send oil OF the expenses for
cleaning disinectlng and withdrawing to the
owner or the premises, and TO use all reasonable
effort to secure the payment OF the same.
The direct mortality from THIS disease proved to be
small compared with the number OF persons at
tackled total number OF deaths being ls4 for the
year 1870. JQe moro imuOlfauI which
presents to sanitary authorities It's contagious
nature; the class OF persons most susceptible, VIZ
which cleansing and dsintectlnS have In controli-
ing its spread; It's dcbllltating Influence upon the
SICK rendering cunvalescence tedious and liable to
dangerous or fatal complications, aud thus tending
70 increased pauperism. IL proved to he in o re-
measures, when thoroughly applied, the principal
obstacle being the inability OF inc Board exercise
any supervision OF the movements OF the yagrant,
homeless class, among which IL prevailed. The his
tory OF this epidemic and the lessons learned from
experience in Its management ana control are given
at length IN report Vi te sanitary committee. tSec
Appendix n.
g. Scarldtino.-TLis most destructive disease OF
infancy very prevalent aud fatal during the
past year. From every point OF view this scourge Of
childhood must be regarded as demanding the most
rigorous measures. both OF prevention ana treat
ment. 1t is peculiarly disease OF early life, the
adult being but Slightly susceptible to II, ana hence
every precauton should oe taken TO prevent an at
tack III childhood, and thus secure the immunity OF
age. The contagious principle, though very difrus-
be ana OF intense activity can be efrectiialy de-
while many OF its most Iatai lpilcatlons may
prevented by care and treatment. With adequate
power and means to fully apply tue, necessary
sureS Of prevention TINS disease may he brought
Under complete control, and IL is to be hoped that
the day Is not distant when every OF scarlatinA
may be as etectuaiiy isolated and suD ccted to as
rigid care as are those or cholera, smallpox or
typhus lever.
q. Me0sies and ,rIoopiag CouJn. These conta.
gous diseases Of childhood prevailed to unusual
extent IN 1870. They have not Deen placed under
The same restrictive me sl,res otner contagious
diseases account Of their mid character, espe-
clally in early liie The popular beief also In the
universal susceptibility Of persons OF all ages and
conditions to one attack OF measles, and OF Its
greater fatality among adults than cn!ldren has
made tins domestic disease a not unwecome visi-
tant family, and rendered The enforcement OF
sanitary regulations more difficult than Ia Other
contagious diseases.
WDooping cough "a closely allied TO measles as a
ma contagious disease over which the sanitary
authorities have not exercised any special con-
A..xI IL. l.I.... EaaaI