The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-08-16
Y. F. AND QUARANTINE,
Some Facts Concerning the Yellow Fever
and Quarantine Regulations in New
Orleans from 1906 to 1874.
BY STANFORD +. CHAILLE, AN, MD,
Professor of Physiology and PATHOLOGY
cal Anatomy, Medical Department,
University OF Louisian,

From l70G, when the first epidemic
of yellow fever occurred, to 1859, IA
period of siXty.three years, thirty
four epidemics ravaged New Or
leans. The records indicate that
some cases occurred in every one of
the remaining twenty.nine non-
epidemic years. No part of these
sixty-three years can be compared
in fatality with the six years, 1853
1858, during which occurred tcur
violent epidemics, lS5S,4,5-S; and
of these "the great epidemic" of 1853
well deserved its title, whilst the
epidemic of 1853 caused Il mortality
never surpassed, except 10y its no.
torious predecessor Of 1858. During
the fifteen years, 1898, New
Orleans has enjoyed an exemption,
Unprecedented in its history, from
yellow fever epidcmics; toc net,
withstandiug the fact that there
have been Cases every one of these
years Except perhaps l86n, there
has been but one rpidcmic--that of
1867.
The first cases have been repeat,
edly traced to the shipping; and III
many other years there has been an
absolute proof, as Il negative pl"po-
sition admits of, that there was no
such conHectiOn, and a conspicuous
absence OF any facts iustifying the
assignment of the origin OF the
disease to importation. The pre-
ceding iadisputablc facts are ire-
quently Ignored rs thcse who adj
vocate the protective virtues OF
quarantine, of an efficient sanitary
police, and Of carbolic acid ana
other disintrctantS. Some of the
facts relative to each one OF these
three prophyl,ctics will be stated.
QUARANTINE.
This is based on the theory that
yellow fever is Imported into Ntw
Orleans, that it is communicable
from perSon to person, and therefore
that hy excluding every case of the
disease the city can be protected
from it's rayages. What are the
facts.
The first quarantine established
was maintained only four years,
1921 4, having been abandoned early
in 1925 from the general conviction
that it had proved WORSE tiiar use
less, for yellow fever was present |
every year, and to the extent of Il
very violent epidemic IN 1922, Rnd |
an epidemic in 1924. After thirty |
years discdntf.uancc, the quaran.
intine, which is still enforced, was
re- e-established in March, 1855. Very
violent epiaemicS occurred in 1896,
1853 and 1867, and excepting 1861
here have been deaths by yellow
ever every year OF the existence OF
he present quarantine.
Thus including the w,,olc time,
'eventyeight years i796-1S73,
here have been twcnty.three Years
With quarantine: During these
here have been deaths of yellow
ever every year 1S6l eXcepted), |
md there have been tive epidenIics
If which four (lS22~55-5S-G7) were
.ery violent.
These facts reader it manifest,
hat after twenty three years trial,
quarantine has annually failed in its
i0le object-to keep all cases of
'ellow fever out of the city. During
he military occupation of New
orleans the experiment was tried,
whether this failure was attributa-
,le to defects of the law, or of its
for "by the absolute
md relentless military authority,
N impregndble system of quarantine
vas .niiintaired,' and notwith-
landing it's remOrseless rigidity
here were eases of yellow fever
mong the civil population every
ear. Worse even than this fi5r the
dvocates of Quarai,tiiie, for in 1868
nd 1864 it prevailed especially
n board tie vessels OF the
United States. Now as To these
asses. it is ASSERTED that "the ofli-
ial usageS and the armed discipline
{ the naval fleet in the harboT of
lew Orleans and upon the river
nabled the medical officers to trace
, its source erciy case. OF yellow
,ver," that when the. disease ap.
cared on one vessel, all Other YES
els we're prtscnttd "by armed ;
nrveilance and discipline from
COMMUNICATING with the infected
essel, alitl that in spite of all this,
he disease could not be traced to
Ia iact there was in
S63 bat one vcSS,l {the Spanish {
pizarrol which even ap- :
reached the pert of New Orleans !,
it'll yellow lever, and this vessel
as kept ut iiav Quaraatine, sixty i
We miles bcloW the city, thus rem J.
ering communication with the
river ilrct7 impossible; aud in
5G4, wheBtwcniy. five vessels, iron
ad gunboatS, etc, in the river and =
re lake, were attacked with yellow K
,ver, not one infected vessel from IA
foreign port arrived, even at the p
1aranIinc stations. y
Avoiding discussion of the CON-
Of yellcw fever, aud
erelUre of the theoretical value Of "
the conclusion tiOm the a
cts given cannct be escaped o.
at quarantine has entirely failed, )
pn under circumstances very eX- n
ptiOaa,lv favorable TO it, to pre- b