New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-23

Inc American fuDllC H6altn Association
| reassembled at nine Yesterday morning in
read two papers written by DR.. Alfred w.
Perry, health inspector Of New Orleans
The first subject, Quarantine without OBJ
struction to Commerce." began with the
history of the Importation of infectious dis
eases and the efforts that have been made
IN every seaport to prevent the spread of
dangerous maladies from vessels to the
| shores. Great opposition has been met in
the conflicting opinions of medical men and
from merchants and owners of vessels who
have been subjected to great losses and ex-
pense by the delay necessary.
Recorded cases." continues DR.. Perry.
prove cOnclusively that vessel infected
with yellow fever ought to be detained in
quarantine at least fifty days. and cases
may be offered to show that time alone can
not be trusted to eradicate the germs of
that disease" Cases were cited of two yes
sells at different periods which sailed from
ports infected with yellow fever, and after
voyage Of over forty days across the At
lantic, during which there were no signs of
the disease being on board. arrived in
Swansea, Wales. The vessels had been
moored to the wharf and the crews dis
charged in good health. Yellow fever at
tackled the stevedores who unlOaded the
vessels, and in both instances the infection
spread into the town and many died.
The old method of disinfecting vessel
was to fumigate the different sections, and
throw a quantity CT chloride of lime into
the bilge water. This could not destroy
the germs lurking ia the crevices Of the
vessel and cargo, and these were liable to
be developed under favorable conditions at
any time. The only certain way to destroy
the germs of infectious diseases is to use
gaseone, and when this agent has been
properly employed, no vessel need be de-
tanned in quarantine over twenty-four
hours. Thus all the advantages of the
strictest quarantine can be secured without
delay or loss to either master. owner, or
merchant The expense of disinfecting
vessel with gaseone is comparatively very
small and the method OF application simple.
SulphurOus acid gas impregnated with
cOlbolic acid is ming led with hot air from a
furnace to produce the gaseone. A COIN
mon blower run by the engine Of the vessel
or steam tug moored alongside forces the
goseone through flexible pines into every
Granny and crevice of the vessel and cargo.
1t unites with and thoroughly disinfects
the bilge water. From four to six hours
application of the gaseone is sufficient to
destroy every germ of disease in the worst
infected vessel possible, and the cargo NAV
be discharged within twenty four hours
with perfect safety. The cargo can not be
injured by the gaseone.
The second paper showed the certainty
with which district III a city attacked with
epidemic malignant fever may be made
healthy by the free use of disintectants 1t
was from New Orleans that the disease was
carried to Shreveport. Memphis, and other
towns in which it was so malignant as to
nearly depopulate them. But for the Wig
orous action of the Board of Health New
Orleans would undoubtedly have suffered
as severely as the other cities.
The first week in August the Board of
Health began to disintect extensively with
carbolic acid all places in which yellow
fever has appeared. This was done by
sprinkGng all the yards, alleys. and drains
with crude carbolic acid from hand sprink
ling pots. using seventy gallons to each
square. This destroyed any germs of dis
ease on the ground, aud prevented their
spread over other parts of the same square.
Thirty whole and twenty-one half squares
where there had been yellow fever we're
disintected in the Fourth District. one of
the worst in New Orleans. and in only seven
of these areas were there any subsequent
cases of the disease.
Before the disnfectiou there had been
ninety.one cases, afterwarG :here were only
eleven. OF population o; :o22li, OF whom
l2i9 were liable 30 be attacked by the
disease. seven and three-tenths per cent
took yellow fever before the area had been
disintected. After disintection only nine.
tenths OF one per ce.t were attacked. In
one square there were six cases OF yellow
fever retween August 10 and September s.
The square was dtisinfected September IL.
and there have been no subsequent eases
there. Ia the other squares dIslutection
by crude carbolic acid was invariab big fol.
lowed by :. total cessation Of the disease.
Thus the value OF disin lection has been
shown in a city containing every principle
favorable 20 the development OF terrible
epidemics.
Professor Chandler detailed the use of
disintec tants in mis- city. The crude dead
oil. product Of coal. which has :. very
disagreeable Odor, but il very cheap. is the
best dis;nfectanc for streets and pIivies.
This oil costs about ten cents Il gallon. The
refuse zine OF manufacturers is reduced by
chiO-lne and this fluid mixed with the dead
OH gives 4 metallic G!j!ntsctinS :!Uiu at a
small cost.
This solution wa. carried about the
streets OF New York IL watering carts. bat
instead of the usual sprinkler which is
very wastefui, 3 double hose was attached,
and two men followed the cart sprinkllng
the cutters. In this way 80 mies of streets
were slisinfected last summer. For Gisin-
tecting privies two barrels were used. one
filed with dead oil the other with the
chloride of zine solution. A pailtu! OF
these solutions mixed half aud halt was
enough to thoroughly tisint.c: the wors.
pr: - at total cost OF ten cents. One hun.
dred and twenty privies were thus disins
tected daily in the worst districts OF teue.
men: no.ses York SIM