The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-27

Quarantine, Mississippi River, June 49, 1875.
Gentlenen-We are in receipt of your letter Of
to-day, in which you expl ess the desire to have
our opinion about the proprietv Of keeping the
steamship City OF Merida and its passengers in
q larantine at this place, and the same time
whether we do not consider this proceeding
liable to iniure their health. We comply with
your request and herewith the answer. Without
entering into long and useless arguments about
euarantiues and what they are worth, we will
only refer TO this special case. ,- d,
This ship left Havana on the Sth inst, proceed
ing on her voyage to Progresso Campeachy and
Vera Cruz, reaching the latter port sitter five
days Of navigation during which time there was
not Ia single ease OF illness on board, and dur
ing which all clear sanitary conditions were OBJ
served. She laid at snchor before Vera Cruz at
about mile from shore, where the sea breeze
blows constantly, and her matches were kept open
and well ventilated.
few bags of coffee !; all her passengers, except
those coming from Vera Cruz itself, and these
are fully acclimated only remained in Vera Cruz
two or three hours. Without exception, during
her trip from the last port to Tuxpan, Tampico
and New Orleans, which lasted five days, the
health OF both passengers and crew has been
excellent, and again all sort Of precautions were
taken to insure the good ventilation of the ship
and disinfect herif ne cessary therefore we might
TT that no vessel can come to port in better
sanitary condition, and in consequence not
needing quarantine.
But even admitting the necessity Of such pro-
ceeding, and though we fully agree with and
acknowledge the right OF every community to
protect itsef against epidemic. we can but pro-
| to diseases which may prove az fstal as yellow
fever. The district where the Quarantine is To-
Gated is not supposed to be Of the very healthest
-malarial fever being prevalent.
necessary in puch localities to enable the psssen-
gers to be half comfortable. For instance. the
want of mosquito nets, and the impOssibility Of
retiring to the state rooms owing to the great
quantity Of carbolic acid which had been used in
them, and which forces the greater part OF the
passengers to pass the whole night on deck
irving to rest, but unable to do so on account OF
the swarms Of mosquitoes.
The night was damp and oppressive-very in
furious no doubt to those principally who are
not accimated, since they are not only deprived
OF the necessary rest, but were also exposed ia
| the miasmas, which are much more dangerous
during the hours OF the night. Besides the facts
already mentioned there is another which has
called our attention and is worthy OF notice. Yes.
sells at anchor at this station are in such close
proximity that If we admit the theory OF conta-
gion and infe ction, we must consider it danger
GUS, for in that case the disease, yeew fever, be-
| ing in one it would spread to all.
During the night q bark came in from Havans
and is now at anchor within thirty yards Of THU
steamer, and as, according to the abOve-men.
toned theory OF contagion and infection, the vel
low fever might exist on vessel without mani
festation of it's existence, it results that those
passengers on board who are not eclimated art
as much exposed to it here as on board vesse
laying at anchor off Vera Cruz. We repeat, gen
tlemen, that we consider the debaMtion OF thu
steamship City Of Merida not only unnecessary
but that it has exposed her passengers to b. 10
liured in their health.
We remain, gentlemen, yours respectfully,
i E. NJ. HEGEw1sCH, n. D.
| A. SMITH, M. d.
To J. W. Wilson, Col. e. A. Mexia and othe
passengers.
In view of the above opinion Of two doctors
one of them (Dr. Hegewisch) being experienced
and familiar with the treatment Of yellow feve
in Vera Cruz, we the sssengers Of the steamship
City Of Merida, without single exception, resolv
that we protest against the detention Of We sci
at Quarantine proceeding from Vera Cruz whel
no fever exists on board, as tending to suppress
the steam communication between this port ant
that Of Vera Cruz, and force commerce and pas
IsengeIs to seek aaOther destination not subjec
to such serious obstacles. We also consider
our duty to warn future passengers crossing from
Mexico to seek another route which will not sub
ject them to the dangers and Inconvenience ex
perienced at tn Quarantine.
Copies Of these resolutions will be sent to to-
principal newspapers in New Orleans. Vera Cru
and City of Mexico. The committee appointed
by the passengers: s. Lopez, G. Bluhm, M. For
tuno, j. W. Wilson. Is IL