The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-20
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY 20 1879 QUADRUPLE SHEET

doctor becoming aware of its existence As to the
hageage the friends of the sufferers at memphis or
their friends in New York TO whom they might DE
coming on have invariably notified the Health
department and asked that the baggage on ITS arrival
should b. funigated.
suppose a person got stricken down on the road
hither, how them?
.'If person got sick on the road, has some
times occurred then the arrival of the sufferer at
Jersey City the patient would b. at once sent TO
Quarantine. and or course II there were any DagSase
IL would be fumgated"
WHERE THE BOARD is PowERLEss.
'But still person in sound health might bring
infected baggage and on arriving in Jersey CITY
have it transferred to locality in this city ripe
enough to receive the poison?
True; but the New York Board of Health cannot
quarantine railroads in the State of New Jersey ana
hence We are powerlcss to deal with such dihcuity
you suggest. The supposition is only u possible
one. think. however"
''But suppose the possibility to have become
reality ana that the disease appeared in thickiy
populated neighborhood what then?'
''You must remember that yellow fever is not
disease that spreads like wildre IL could not ex-
list in this city long enough to cause any apprehen-
Board of Health, for on its very appearance are
able to surround it effectuay and it out with
out allowing 1t to spread. In every instance when
it appeared here we prevented all cause OF alarm by
the prompt and efficient treatment with which 1t
met"
Then you trust to the ordinary machinery of
your department to be able to meet any emergency
that may arise this summer"
81 soc no reason to have any apprehension.
"Have you received any mmunications from
the authorities at Memphis or any other southern
.None Whatever
"Has the National Board of Health issued any in
structions to the New York Board?'
None. The National Board of Health exercises
general supervisory control all the local boards
and occupies itself largely in quarantine affairs but
does not interfere with the action of local boards
authoritativeiy."
''Then you are free to legislate as you please
should difficulty arise this summer
Certainly. But rs we have no railroads from the
South running into New York cannot of course
quarantine railroads from the infected district; so
that all really do is to help people who wish
to help themselves. and should accident happen. to
bring all our force to bear upon the malady wher-
ever 1t may appear and thus prevent it from pass
ing out or narrow and circumscribed district
PRECAUTIONS AT QUARANTINE.
DR.. vanderpoel was found at his post Of duty. of
steamers coming to this harbor weekly from injected
and dangerous ports was from three to four, Out
sue Oh naVana ana Matanzas there was no trouble
Some ten or twelve sailing vessels arrive from
Havana every week and require careful Watching
Steamers are cleaner, he said, and make shorter
stays in port At present, while freights are diff
cult to get, some of the West India vessels
have to remain long time in Havana. The crews
get ashore, go protracted "sprees and fill their
! systems with whiskey aud the germs of disease
The yellow fever germs spread in the ship, and
| the crew being democrat .zed. she is not properly
cleansed, and deaths the result.
Every vessel reported within three weeks" said
the Doctor. "has discharged her cargo quarantine
Every case that We have had except two originated
| IN Havana There are no new cases. The waiter
Enrich Eichmann, of the Merida, Havana steamer,
which arrived from Mexican ports last Monday,
died yesterday OF yellow fever in the hospital.
There have been eight ten cases there, but the
patients are rapidly getting well. Only three deaths
from yellow fever have occurred this season. John
Schroern. second steward of the Niagara from Ha-
vana is in the hospital. but will be up few days
| The Doctor added that the mortality had suddenly
| increased in Havana from fifty one hundred and
fifteen cases in three weeks. Still he did not think
the fever would be SO general malignant it
| last year.
"No OCCASION FOR GENERAL ALARM"
In speaking OF the situation at Memphis and Of the
outlook In general the Doctor said he did not think
there was enough material for the fever to work
| to such extent to excite general alarm Most
of the people who will in the infected regions
are fully acclimated have had the fever. The
Others leaving rapidly, and will be left in
| few days. In regard to the proposed schemes for
preventing the spread of the disease he said that
He had more faith i'll that than the ''freezing OUT
process Ice good but he doubted il the interior
OF ship could be frozen and kept that condition
for any length Of time. I'm letter the Presi-
SENT, continued the Doctor II said what now be-
lieve to be true, that the fever could be entirely
prevented if tho United States government would
cooperate with the Spanish authorities, appoint
commission, purify Havana. and keep it purified
1t is city of 100000 inhabitants Its sewers pour
into harbor that has no tidal action
of any account. This mass Of filth fills
the bottom of the harbor. canal from the
would be carried of and there would be no more
yellow fever Every Of pestIlcnce OF this char
acter has originated In Havana. 1t is fact that the
certain period it breaks out at MatanZss thence it
spreads to the Gulf and Mississippi ports Of the
United States.''
EFFICIENCY OF HIGH WALL.
"It has been determined beyond doubt" added
the Doctor, THAT the fever germs move certain
rate OF speed near the ground or water. but they
seldom rise above certain height. A wall fifteen
twenty feet high will arrest its march, and it
actually has been fenced In some instances The
commission now making tour of investigation in
the West Indies will obtain new facts and data
gard to this remarkable and terrible malady.'