The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-10-17

A Gulf Quarantine!

We learn that it Is the purpose
OF DR.. Bell, of the national board
OF health, to recommend very
strongly the establishment bf a
gulf 0uarabtine station at Ship Is
hand. The idea is to supersede the
necessity for the present duaran.
tine station on the Mississippi riv-
cb and TO locate the station on
properly belonging to the United
States government. pr. Bell, IS
pronounced in his objections to the
Mississippi river quarantine sta
tiOn, @nd thinks tie site the very
worst that could have possibly been
selected. Itis SO located that, with
the force ut the command of the
officers, COMMUNICATION with the
city cannot be prevented 4; the an
chorage is bad, Infected ships can
not be kept properly separated
from those free fromc infection,
the place IL Infected with moSqui-
toes and the accommodations for
the sick src Of tile rudest aud most
unsatisfactory character. AS an
instance OF this DR.. Bell cites tho
fact that there are no means whery-
by II sick PERSON can be taken from
IA ship to the shore in u recumbent
position; aud that no matter how
III the patient, he is compelled to
walk; and often to climb down q
ladder swting down the vessers side:
In cases of fever this treatmelit
mustialInost necessarially result IA
tally, aud steps cannot too soon be
taken to remedy an evil which has
doubtless cost many lives. At the
New York and other. quarantine
stations there are arrangements for
keeping patients il, reGumteIt
position, and they are transferred
from one vessel to another hy
means of swim sing cot, vtlllth 10 d
very simple mechanical contrivance
and without which the movement
of fever paVent must always be
attended with extreme Hattger
The national board had appro-
prlatcd $4,000 for tie erection of
suitable quarantine buildings at
the sta tiou, but Nr. Bell will siren
uousiA oppose the Expenditure at
that point by reason OF peculiar
uuitness, and will advice the con.
struction of htati0h at Ship Island |
which he claims has every advan.
cage over the present location. Be
ing in the gulf, it is perfectly salu-
brious, has fine harbdr; ard with
the construction of the wbarves and
warehouses and hospitals coutemp-
lated would be no doubt an admir-
able station. Not the least of it's
recommendations is the fact that
IL ship detained there lis infected
could BE loaded and unloaded and
proceed on her voyage at consid.
crab less expense than would be
incurred If she came to the present
quarantine station This is Mat.
ter OF such Importance as to de-
mand the very serious considera-
ton of our State authorities, who
we believe, very generally admit
The wretched situation Of our quar-
intine station. TO Be compelled
20 remain there ten days, cooped
Up on a ship, without adequate
means of protection from the raven
'uS mosquitoes, is but one remove
rom pnrgatOry. It's a place where
10 sane and well man will remain
t he can possibly escape, and the
most stringent law that could be
enacted could not prevent people
rom leaying and making their :
way to the city. The detention is !,
'ad enough and hard enough to
ear but when it is coupled with :
he awful intiictions of burning :.
eat, Unsuitable mosquitoes and =
ad accommodations, human ra, ?
nre cannot be expected to stand ?