The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-15


reply that quarantine in Louisiana is under tn
control OF the State, and that four modes OF clar
flying vessels are chiefly used.
These are thorough aeration on the voyage ant
at quarantine of the whole vessel, and of all bed
| ding and all clothing on board fumlga ion witt
| the fumes of burning sulp hur; fumigation WI
| chlorine gas, and free use of carbollc acid (sC
| calledJ mixed with about part to ten o
| water for the bilge of vessels, and one part Il
fiftv of water for sprinkllng the forecastles ant
cabins.
Inc first proceeding on the arrival here of 8
vessel from an infected port, after the inspec ior
of the vessel, passengers and crew, is to have al
the matches opened. and all the bedding cloth
ing and baggage brought on deck and spread
and hung out for aeratIon; and this is continued
during the clear weather Of the vessels deten-
ton.
sulphur fumig alton is probably the most
| reliable now known against yellow fever iHfec-
ton, but 1t is usual at this station, with loaded
or unclean vessels, to follow it, after at least
four hours intermission, with another fumigation
| with chlorine gas.
| The best fumigaton with sulphur is made by
burning IT III iron pots placed on the stone bal.
last, or on iron plates In the closed hold of the
vessel. Every precaution should be taken to
guard against fire. With a vessel in ballast and
with proper care there need be no danger, tor
sulphur burns without sparks, and with low,
persistent flame: and when thus placed, and the
requite quantity used it will burn until all avail
able oxygen is consumed. For loaded vessels
and others in which the iron pots can not Judi
| cOusly be u.ed we have a small scow, holding
an iron furnace in which the sulphur is burned,
| and from which, by an ordinary blower the
fumes are forced through gutta- purcha pipes
| into the holds of vessels.
The various modes of obtaining and using
| chlorine need not here be described.
For vessel OF 1000 tons, aud in ordinary con-
| dtion, the fumigation requires from 10 to Is
pounds Of sulphur according to the amount of
| freight in the hold. For the subsequent chlorine
| fumigation we use two pounds Of the black oxide
| OF manganese, two pounds Of comm n salt and
| one quart OF water, thoroughly mixed in an
| earthern vessel. This is properly placed N the
| hold, and upon it is then poured one quart of
strong sulphuric acid. Of course all outlets
| from the hold of the vessel must be entirely
| closed, and they should remain closed for from
| four to Six hours after each fumgation. If the
vessel is in water. light compartments, each COM
psrtment, except the one containing the engine
| and coal bunkers, must be separately fumi-
gated. The distinction of the vessel Of
1000 tons requires about three quarts of
| the ordinary clarified carbolic acid; two
quarts in the bilge and one quart for sprink
ling the vessel and such bedding and clothing as
may properly be sprinkled. The quantities of
the material required, however are not depend
ent only on the size Of the vessel or the amount
of cargo. but to still greater degree on the con-
dlt:on OF the vessel: For instance, the largest
steamship, City of Merida on her last trip had
80 thoroughly carried out the printed rec M
mend'tions OF our Board of He 4lth Ia copy is
herewith enc,osed) that she required only fumi-
CATION here, and small schooner, lately cleared
needed quite as much of the materials as have
named for the vessel of 1000 tons. Baggage from
infected ports is not usually fumigated at this |
station. 1t is generally disinfected by being at
first thorough aired and then hung or spread
out on berths and chairs in rooms that can he
completely closed, the floors and walls of which
are then freely sprinkled with the caIbolic acid
mixture, and the rooms then closed and kept |
closed for at least four hours.
In answer to the inquiry about the first cost of |
the m I FIJI 10 +Lo
purchasing agent Of the Board of Health. 1t is |
evidently much less, however, than the cost of |
the necessary professional supervision and the |
services of skilled employees.
Your reference to me of the request for "srch
other information (about quarantlne) az YOU NAV
deem OF interest or Importance to the public" |
eeems to open subjects 80 extensive that neither
time or circumstances will allow me to attempt |
to do them justice. Nevertheless brief refer.
ence to some appropriate matters seams to be
required, and will not materially lengthen this
report.
The cost of the necessary appliances for using
extreme cold or extreme heat for dsinfectiDg
vessels, and the fact that they usually can not
properly he applied to loaded vessels will for
years preclude their use at the smaller quaran-
tines. This, however, Is not OF cialimportance
for experience seems to teach that empty or but |
partly loaded, vessels rendered perfectly nnoc
uous by the means used at this station. Probably
no degree of avaa BILE fumigation and disinfectlon
will certainly render all loaded and infected yes
from all such vessels can be SO greatly reduced
hat it becomes really unimportant. Of course,
fumigation and dsinfection if used at all, should
be complete and thorough. |!
At this quarantine station there are no facili-
ties for unloading vessels, and they are not I'M
loaded, but no infection or infec ious disease
has this season passed here towards New Or
leans; and while it lie not absolutely impossible
it is still very unlikely that either will hereafter
pass.
The idea that the national government will in :
terfere with the quarantine laws of the States, |
and that local guarantees will be abolished
ire doubtless erroneous. Firstly, the general
government, by an act Of Congress has declared 7
hat the right to establish and regulate quaran-
lue is among the reserved rights of the states .
It therefore can not lawfully be impaired without t
Constitutional amendment. Secondly, the best 2
public sentiment OF the country demands in GER T.
ain circumstances, strict enforcement Of quar- e
n inc, while it also requires very material mod
hcatlons OF the quarantine laws. g
An imperative time quarantine" is now unpe- 8
essary and ineXpedient.
The requisite fumigation and disinfection of "
essels, while sometimes annoying, is no him 81
rance to commerce, but actually the reverse. A p
Majority OF the owners, officers, and crews of YES a.
els desire it because Of the resulting purifica- q
on and the greater immunity from disease. But Ia
ne detention OF vessels is serious evil not only I'll
} commerce generally, but especially to the port
here the quarantine is established.
The period of detention, therefore, should be
18th the safety Of the community to be pro- th
'cted; but evidently this time will vary with diff p
rent vessels, and no law arbitrarily fixing it will al
ear equally ON all. fu
For instance. steamship lately came here fir
ON Havana, by way of Key West, in clearly Ill
'ndition, but partly loaded, and with all her pr
issengers and crew, except one seaman, thor re
lghly acclimated She could have safely passed mi
it'll her passengers to New orleans, after eight az
ours detention and the removal of the unac- wi
mated seaman. Some what similar instances LAY
e of frequent occurrence co
The cutlery against port guarantees will cease an
hen quarantine laws permit the passage OF au
ssels with unobiectionable cal goes and all we'll,
ter few hours detention for aeration, fumiga-
N and dislnfection, and the removal and tenn
rary detention of all unacclimated persons who
9 less than eight or ten days from infected he
,aGties. (St
Evidently all vessels cannot safely be thus SA
ssed. Therefore there shou be at every Isl
arantne station resident physician with the cal
lnisite assistant assistants for whose acts PR
is personally responsible. He should be an IN
he it. ntelllgent and experienced medical GEN. shs
man with sufficient ability to know his whole hol