The New York herald., 1871-02-08

ing Details and Recogds.
70 TIE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF QUARANTIEE
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK -
GENrLEMBN-l have the honor to submit to your
honorable Board the following report Of the general
condition OF the Quarantine Departments
Tce experience Of the past year enables me to
offer feH suggestions IN regard to various changes
and improvements which are necessary to meet the
exIgencles OF a well appointed Quarantine.
THE SUBJECT OF QUARANTINE,
o. properly understood, has numerous reciprocal
relations In connection with the interests OF com-
merce ana the preservation OF the public
health. IL should DO considered with the
view OF reducing Its management to a
regular system, in order that The various
details my be carried out with promptness
and discrimination, and in such manner as 10 i'm
pose the least possible restraints upon commercial
enterprise compatible with The public safety.
The quarantine laws were originally made TO
guard against The introduction OF pestiIental dis
eases Into our country by the arrival OF INJECTED yes-
sels at tho various seaports.
SANITARY AND coMMEaCfAL INTERESTS
are thus apparently by an implied necessity Of re-
straint, thrown into q KIND OF antagonism BY o
proper knowledge, however, Of the history. pro-
gress and laws which govern the course Of pestien-
tal maladcs the regulation OF Quarantine can be SO
systematzed as to accomplish in great degree the
objects for which Quarantine was Instituted, and
yet not necessarily embarrass the pursuits oil COM
merce, except far to insure The general safety
Ot the community.
TO carry on properly, however, system with
these ends IN view the necessary facilities for ad-
mlnistration must he provided 1t is of great i'm
pOrtanco that persons arriving from infected
localities VINO are Suffering with disease shall be
completely isolated, at the same time that they be
well cared for and receive good medical attention.
The second class OF persons who snonld be sub
1ected TO quarantine are those who have been ex-
posed to injection and who may have the seeds Of
disease lurking I'm their systems. These should also
Oe isolated for certain length OF time In order to
an0rd opportunity observation or their condition
during the
PERIOD OF INCUBATION
which is common to contagious diseases. Persons
who have been exposed TO malarieus atmosphere,
or who have been breathing for a time a close air
charged with pestilentia poison. should be per-
mitted to mingle freely IN 4 healthy community, as
thereby disease is apt to be developed; STILL IL would
be injudici0us ana inhuman to keep those who have
been merely exposed to disease in contact or COM
municaton with the sick.
TO NEE: the requirements OF this class Of persons
MEANS MUST BE PROVIDED
appliances for the prevention OF disease and the
elimination OF the pesilental influences with which
their systems may be charged, while the various
comforts Of good diet pure air. ciean bedding, &C.,
shall be provided.
The construction of artificial Islands in the lower
bay, with q area Of from TWO to three acres, snf
Client In extent for the erection OF hospitals and
other appropriate buildings for the accommodation
and nygienio management of the sick ana infected.
and placed sufficiently remote TO insure
IMMUNITY FROM DANGER
Of the spread OF the disease, will incaculabe
benefits to the citizens OF New YORK aud the al
joining cities or Brooklyn and Jersey CITY
From the extensive and wide spread ramincstlons
OF the mercantile interests of the city Of New York,
pestllcnal diseases must necessarily find their way
to the harbor Of the great commercial emporium OF
the country yet with suc structures located at the
mouth OF the harbor Offering every comfort to the
unfortunate sufferers combined with q well regu-
lated administration OF quarantine, the public may
rest In tranquil safety while peseDce is kept at bay
at the very gates OF the city.
THE INCREASED INTRODUCTION or STEAMSHIPS
into the mercantile marine ana the rapid trans
mission OF news 10y ocean teegrapis nave 10 a GER
tain extent, increased the exisencies 81 e Quaral-
tine Department. Masters or vessels arriving from
distant ports, after comparatively shors voyage,
are not satisfied To drop anchor nd the slow
process Of boarding, as formerly practisad The
medical officer ;last be on board the vessel as soon
0s she reaches tlie quarantine grounds, tue steam
whistle or the booming OF gun gives the notice of
approach a mile or two below the boarding limits,
and without more delay than is absolutely required
fOr inspection except In cases where sickness exists
the examination OF ship and passengers is complete
and the permit 1lven to proceed. WITH tins
SriRIT OF RAID ENTERPRISE
now pcrvading the shipping community it Is evident
that to keep up with the times the tardy rowb0at
must give place to steam for boarding Purposes and
that Increasing labor and activity are demanded at
all times, during the night rs well rs Inc day.
This theory ol progress In quarantine have en-
deavOred to carry Into effect and nave been gradu-
ally perlecting since the commencement of my term.
THE QUARANTINE ESTABLISHMENT
OF the port of New York. according 20 the act passed
In 1868, is to consist Of
observation-disclosures, wet docks ana wharves.
seco1M-AncLorage for vessels.
Inrd-F.oating hospital
F0afM-Boarding station.
FuWa-Burylng ground.
6fEtb-Resldences Tor officers and men.
Tne 1oating hospital Is now happily superseded
warehouses for the storage OF infected goods, next
IN Importance TO the isolated accommodations Tor
Since the destruction by fire. in 1855, OF the Qua
rantine buildings no provision has been made Tor
the construction OF
WAREHOUSES AND DOCKS
In connection with quarantine, although the neces
city Tor their erection has been frequently pressed
upon the attention Of the Legislature.
No quarantine system can be properly carried out
or satisfactorily administered whel goods and Iner-
chanuiSe from lnieccu pOrtS must eitltr remain on
board the vessels in which they arrive or be dis
charged upon lighters at dis ance rom The city.
II detained on shippoard the merehant is deprived
OF his goods and the shipowner OF his vessel for
much longer period than would otherwise be neces-
sary. There Is no doubt that, with proper facilities
furnished Tor the discharge and storage or merchan-
dse from objected ports, the restraints which quar-
anime necessarily imposes would be considerably
lossened.
THE PRESENT QUARANTINE LAWS
distinctly declare tnGt al vessels from any place
where dseasc subject to quarantine existed ar tue
time Of their departure arriving between the first
day OF April and the first day OF November. Shall
remain at quarantine for at least thirty days after
their arrival. and ut least twenty days after their
caiY0es shall have been discharged, unless the
vessel or cargo, BOTH to proceed Ihis discle-
nonary power have endeavored during the past
summer 10 exercise, as far possible, tbs inter-
est3 OF commerce..
Quarantine warehouses are the important de-
slderatum which IL at present wanting " make up
the general compliment hicn ia nereS sarv Tor