The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-19
THE NEW ORLEANS DENOCRAT SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1873

could but bear an International character. II
belongs to Consress 70 institute is the proper
to issue such laws which will do the greatest
good and the least harm to those States most
Interested In this matter. It is from the
errors committed IN the past that we should
That our institution OF quarantine has SO far
proved total failure ID indisputable. Who
will question 1t, that a more careful eurvel-
lance and attention at the Quarantine Station,
at the mouth OF our river, would probably
this time have prevented the terrible calamity
from which we have just emerged2 / do not
intend to accuse any Of the gentlemen who
have been. officiating at that port; no, 1t is
not man, but the damnable system Dolitics
which deserves accusation foul and
disgraceful system which, here, as else
where, proves the curse OF this country,
the source OF corruption and SO manifold
evils, which brings men into such responsible
positions by which the life Of thousands may
become jeopardized, whereby men may be APP
| pointed who probably have never seen q case
OF yellow fever, or who cannot discriminate
even between yellow fever and palludal or
proper and exact execution Of such an import
| ant and responsible post as that Of a Quaran-
tine official, 10 qualification and incorrupti-
bilfty 1--WE want men with "hide" which no
les OF ship captain, or OF passengers anxious
TO lana, should not lead to neglect OF duty,
and for rendering protection more secure,
Drdconic ldacs are afforded. The severest pun
ishment should be dealt out to all proven re-
eusant In the performance OF their duties.
Such laws ought to apply to all who would
enter one OF our ports without clean bill OF
health. ALI foreign governments, and fore
most such where yellow fever 10 endemic,
ought to be, notified Of the punishment fol-
lowing violation Of our laws. Without such
additional international obligations, q quar-
antine would give but an insufficient
protection, Ii II wanted. more
instituted and regulated quarantine could ful-
| fill Its Intention, we need merely refer to the
experience won during the late epidemic by
| some OF the interior towns OF our State and
q Mnissisnsippi,. as Magnolia, summit.
| have been harshly .censured for the severity
| and energy with which they were watching
over their safety by their established quar-
antines, but by which the fever, that had Wis
| tied some OF them during former epidemics,
was kept away. The people OF these towns by
nnanimity and perseverance, In action, though
contrary to existing laws, remained entirely
free from infection and kept fever at bay
30 severely. 1t would be foolish trying to
deny such indisputable facts. The history OF
the epidemic OF 1878, more than any Of It's
predecessors, has given incontrovertlble
executed quarantine regulations. SO was this
time the whole coast Of Texas kept free from
the invader. The impression Of the people of
Galveston is unanimous, that the escape from
traordinary excellence of the Galveston Board
OF Health. Yet ia quarantine which might dofor
coast like Texas, or for small inland town,
could hardly be established with benefit to
city, with 80 many inlets and outlets for
smaller crafts, with the neighborhood OF Ha-
vana, and with regard to her commercial
relations, would hardly be effective an un-
dertaking difficult Of execution. Yet there Is
another serious question which might encom-
pass our total ruin, and ought, therefore, to en-
list our most earnest attention. We need not
doubt that by the experience those inland
towns have won. that restrictions, enforced
this time by a few, would In q future epidemic
OF our city become universal, and there would
be no government strong and audacious
enough to prevent the people OF the country
from surrounding US with Q Gordon OF exclu-
sion which might give the death-blow to what
has been left OF the former commerce of the
emporium OF the South, our Crescent City"
The Issue would most 6ssuredly be tried, and
ought to betaken into early consideration. In
rsSe 70 ber avoid t sSacrcns foreign
ened with exclusion from the interior, |
our Legislature has to take proper steps, and |
In time, to prevent such a catastrophe. A |
quarantine, even national one would hardly |
correspond to our requirements. It might |
still but mean the ruin Of our com MERGE. The |
Northern people would prefer contributing |
yearly Tor our poor, even II they should in
crease twofold, than have their ports closed
against those. countries from which they OBJ
tain some OF the most important articles OF |
commerce.. All the disadvantages the dam
ages resulting from such prohibitory sys-
tenn, would nevertheless, under natioual
doubtful II even an international quarantine,
whereby foreign governments would have to
carry portion Of the burden would fully re-
spond to our emergencies. What is left, then,
fsAv~f srr r. x.s- tIzrz
portant question: Have we no other means
OF protection aside Of quarantine2 Under
which comprise the detention of ship In
port certain time before permitting passen-
our present system OF dsinfection The
answer to that important question cul-
inmates In the fact that the yellow fever
virus n,s s. can Gan be DESTROYED BY frost We are
ship, to attain Q clean bill Of health was
tried In the English navy. ship coming
from an infected port had to go north sufIi-
GENTLY high till by the exposure to proper
low temperature all the infected matter on
board had been destroyed. and such ship
has never infected q person again coming
In contact with IL. For ships destined for .
Northern port this certainly would not make
q great difference; 1t would not be considered ]
too great hardship in calculating it, whilst
for our Southern ports such trip would,
probably even Tor steamers be inexpediept I
Still even here our practical people might !
1nd an Edison to invent q method by which /
ship might in shorter time and quite effect :
ually be disinfectcd by an artificial frost and 7
herewith overcome the necessity Of first T
making trip toward the North Pole. | have ;
no doubt II Congress would offer a price for !
such an invention the object might be ac-
or commission OF technical ex-
perts might be appointed for solving the
problem. Whatever the result the expert
nent ought to be tried, and / am almost as '
sured that complete success would finally {
crown the undertaking. Beyond all question I
lhe people OF the United States and most so t
II the South, expect to have met In the year |
1878 the last epidemic of yellow fever. / a
looks for protection to Congress +
md "Consutes yidednt ne quid respublica I
Cdpidt" I
M. SCHUBERT, M. d. 1