The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05


New Orleans over their road.
CONTEMPLATED ARRANGEMENTS BY THE SUPER
INTENDENT OF THE POSTAL s1RvIcE--AN
INTERVIEW WITH SURGEON GENERAL WOOD
WORTH AS TO PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
wAsHIY0roy. August T. 1873
The Superintendent Of the Postal Service, in reply
to inquiries said that II the yellow should
tinus to be epidemic at New Orleans he would adopt
the same mode OF transferring the mails that
carried out In Florida last year during the prevalence
Of the fever ut ST. Augustine and other points The
mails AZ that time were taken TO a selected place,
few miles beyond the injected district and there
loaded and lott then placed In wagons conveyed
the train, thus avoiding all possibility of contact
with persons who might possibly spread the disease
Tue opinion OF the Superintendent, however, 10 that
there win probably be modification Of tho existing
regulations governing quarantine at Now Orleans. In
which event the necessity Of carrying this tedious
plan will be sbviatsd Tho inquiry has naturally
arisen to what the Treasury Department 10 doing
In the natter ipasmuch ut tho last OF Con-
greso law was passed providing for more sys-
tematic and effective plan OF operations tho part
OF the government in protecting ssaports IRON tho
introduction OF contagious diseasos The carrying
out Of this law devolves upon the Surgeon GeueraI
OF the United States Marine Hospital service. aud the
correspon dent OF the HERALD called upon Dr. Wood.
worth to-day and the following conversation took
place.
81 am obtaining" said the Doctor ia reply to a
question: he latest possible reliable Information Of
the existence progress OF tho disease and OF the
movements OF injected vessels. ana promptly sup
plying the information to the health authorities OF
Abe several States and municipalities"
'Is that all that Is required Of you by the recent
actP"
'It is not, but It IL ali that Is possible 10 do until
Congress makes the necessary appropriations Tor
carrying out the provisions OF the act The act was
approved ny the President on the 10Th Of April.
he following day circular was issued to consular
officers and other representatives OF tho United States
abroad, requesting them to furnish tho Information
cuar to State and munic pal health boards
port sanitary authorities OF the United states
shall not interfere with any State or municipal
quarantine, no ono could tell what required until
such authorities were consulted. THIS could not be
satisfactorily done by letter, aud regarding the
importance OF the matter started Ave days alter the
passage OF the act to visit the ports OF the Gull and
he, which Il aid as rapidly as possible By
arranging with each city by telegraph or ~
or both convened to meet me on my arrival BY
moving rapidly hoped to obtain Tho necessary in
formation TO enable me TO make q report Congress
before II adjourned. l completed my journey and
returned TO Washington The day before Congress I'D
jourpsd, but Congress- would have considered tho
mattor or made an appropriation tho last day Of
ITS session, even II could have prepared report 10
How we're you received at the southern ports9"
Ivory cordially everywhere"
"what intsrprstaron DO you put upon the Quaran.
tine act in view Of the provision forbddinR inter-
ference with State or municipal quarantiuesf"
'Ths notion. which the net seems 10 imply, that
there may be interference thu part OF govern
ment with tie city Or State authorities Ia quito IN
founded Quarantine has 10 do with vessels coming
from without only, aid after they enter port they
NO longer subject TO quarantine rules regulations
being then subject 10 the city or State health authori
viii not Interfere with any local health rules or
Quarantine regulations. The general government, no
doubt. has the right to establish aud adminis,sr
tecing the ntry At large, and should the city
thorttiss Of such port see nt TO supplement The
tional supervision Of commerce snd vessels By a
quarantine OF their own my office would not In any
manner interfere with the municipal quarantine, but
the contrary, would aid the local health authori
ties by furnishing every obtan ablo information, and
which IL II not possible Tor the State or city 10 obtain
Of any quarantine station until the sary
erected and complete outfit provided for main.
tanning an efficient quarantine Tns Gun only be
cured alter tho necessary appropriations are made by
'For what ports will you recommend that appro-
s.At those ports only where the State or municipal
authorities hGvs expressed q wish that the govern
luent shall take charge More tnan hall Of the ports
bsve expressed such wish. In fact the only places
opposed to the government assuming charge OF quar-
posed upon vessels affords q considerable revenue"
What 40 you think OF me and guarantees sstab-
lished against New OrIsansY"
.QuaSantino by land, beyond disinfscting tho
clothing effects Of passengers, in my opinion, I'm
practicable II not useless. In this opinion do
,ako into account the harm done to commerce. The
sick OF yellow lever do not commun the Giseasc
Tho yeow fever poison may he transported IN tho
clothing effects oil passengers especially ~ confined
in trunks or boxes bat its iavorte lurking place Is
IN the damp, 1thy holds and bulge water Of SHIPS,
where, u conhncd, II multiDiies and Increases In
lence 10 such extent not only 10 affect IN
board but to exert It's perm icious infucnce IN
the direction Of tue currents OF AR TO considerable
dstancen
"Are tho guarantees Of the Southern ports EN-
cfcnty"
"Asny Of them cannot be as now managed. IL
vessel - injected every person should be removed
from the vessel should be thoroughly disiniected
aud then scrubbed inside ard outside aud then
fectsd again In TINS way vessel can 10 returned 10
commerce twenty iour hours IN healthy CONDITION.
= at New York. Al many OF the quaraDtines
of this country there are no iaciltes tor providing
for sick well vi Injected vessel, and thcy
accordingly retained the vessel, winch is the con-
ditou favorable Tor propagatng the poison. and
not only exposes all on boara. but every who
comes near the vessel"
'.Do you think yellow fever can DO contracted from
IettersY Galveston forbidden tho entry Into that
city oil the New Orleans mails"
~ DO not think there ~ danger from let
tors receive letters from Havana other yellow
fever Injected districts week think vi
any danger. There Is none"
ARRIVAL OF WHALERS.