The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-19
QUARANTINE AND THE QUARANTINE
OFFICIALS.

TO the Ed1tor OF the democrat.
Notwithstanding the fact that the physicians
In charge of the Mississippi River Quarantine
Station at once recognized and promptly ar
rested the first real cases of yellow fever that
made their appearance on board an incoming
vessel last year. certain persons have seen ut
to make great outcry about supposed want
of experience with the disease in question hav-
ing prevented these physicians from discover
ing that Two men on another steamer. arriv-
Ing subsequently. had the disease. when one Of
these men was found. after strict examine
ton, instituted with special reference to yellow
fever to present none OF the symptoms. and
the other was to all appearance In perfect
health, and was not taken sick until two days
after the steamer passed.
1t may read very pIausibly to q non-profee-
sioual observer that because quarantine physi-
with yellow fever they might fail to recognize
the disease. but when one considers that we are
in the habit OF OBTAINING every man who may
OF illness whatever, until We are satisfied Of the
nature of his COMPLAINT. It Will be seen that we
are much more liable to detain man who does
really has it. This plan Of OBTAINING ali eases
that seem at ell suspicious is justified hy the
fact that In the very first stage of any fever.
almost impossible TO- foresee what the
disease will probably be. II man were
taken with small pox symptoms on
~
there is scarcely physician living who would
not think he had yellow fever, and In general
feel no hesitation in saving IL is impossible to
yellow fever or not. unless an epidemic OF the
disease Is at hand. or the patient Is known to
auf
think that the fact Of our having discovered the
first cases which came. although 1t was pro-
tested BY the physician In charge ct the steamer
ing the Havana water. shows more for our
ability to distinguish the disease when we meet
unestablished suspicious concerning the death
OF a man who may not have had the disease at
all. as his physician and nurse-both expert
to throw discredit upon our skill In recognizing
1t. submit this question TO an impartial pub
lie. and ask which side OF the case seems most
Even supposing that we did our best to find
out whether Mr.. Clark. on the Inflated Emily
souder. had the yellow fever. and that we failed
from want OF skill to discover 1t, / think the
public will agree with me in saying that we are
less culpable than would be the case had either
Of u.s. while On vessel EonS from
had not yet appeared, lent ourselves to a
scheme, devised o.. the captain for purely pecu-
y to 81 ns out se
fever. Is it less thing to be ashamed of to err
through ignorance than knowingly to aid, even
tadity r. deadly disease into the
DR.. Drew. who happened to be a passenger on
the Souder, and who Is supposed to have con-
has been abused without mercy for this crime
II he had done this thing and was ashamed to
confess II. he might now safely come forward
and admit that he was not honest enough to
quarantine himself, and doubtless 1t would be
regarded merely as a pleasant little trick
mSon me
York. has told how 1t was done, seeming to re-
gard 1t as a sort of plausible Joke. at the same
time giving IL hia OnfpiQn THAT nftAn the
health officers are dishonest. and generously
suggesting that the physician. whose testimony
ss sS ns Beard Ss had Examined to os as
very carefully. was published In three daily
papers. had in reality done nothing of the
for. but in justice to Dr. Drew. will say in this
connection that he was not even on board when
the muster OF the crew was held: ct which Clark
patients in the hospital and had no opportunity
to get on board again until Just before the Sou
ton TO Clark had been discussed and set led.
DIR. Darlington does not remember to have
heard DR.. Drew give any decided opinion as to
nothing whatever to me about it. for only saw
him few minutes altogether.
am not prepared to deny that both Clark
ii they did. and If their cases gave rise to the
epidemic, neither OF which points has ever
been established, or ever can be, have only to
say that the pub lie has TO blame the agents OF
the steamer for importuning the president OF
the Board of Health to release their ship, for ii
matters had been allowed, to take a natural
layed at quarantine SO much longer that those
men would have both been taken ill here,
instead of in New Orleans.
do not blame them myself. as their desire to
have the ship, released was perfectly natural
nor do think the public have any cause to dc
anything 70 az With he and
this opinion have reason to know am sus-
tained by the views OF great many people in
with whom it is matter Of religion to asser,
| and prove. il possible. that yellow fever never
can originate in New Orleans, For my part.
been but few cases it was probably i'm
ported, but In all the, great epidemics
believe that the result would have been
called infected ports" had been Kept up OF
not. However. whether yellow fever originates
IA our soil or not. it is certain that it is suscep
tible OF being imported, and, even If we had it
every year. it would be important to keep up a
quarantine against it anyhow. 50 as to keep it
out as long as possible j for while it would be
If no quarantine existed. it would probably not
appear spontaneously until late in the summer
does not appear in New Orleans every year. and
so. granting that occasionally it has originated
in the city. we can hope by means of ouaran-
believe that after all that has been said and
itself to the minds Of those now engaged engaged
III LILO luNocttkdtlOA Vi CRUISES, means
of prevention. etc. the result will be that in
some years 1t will not appear at all, and that in
other years. despite the most rigid quarantine
that may be imposed. there will be great cpl
denies. Just as we have had 1t for the past
twenty years expect great things Of science
but. think the solution of the yellow fever
problem is further of than aerial navigation
and many other difficult achievements that have
been attempted. Even suppesing that we dis
cover the cause Of the disease. it may be as diff
upon it's nature, and all the time the cemeteries
will &c filling up and the SANDER Of quarantine
physicians will 60 on.
reiterate, however. that it is no argument
against the value of quarantine to claim that
yellow fever can appear spontaneously in New
Orleans. AS we'll say that because mans own
servants occasionally rob his house 1t is not
worth while for him to lock his doors at night
against burglars.
Among other rash conclusions that have been
arrived at. many have concluded that because
carbolie acid failed to check the epidemic in
New Orleans this past summer. it is of no avail
against the poison. Now. I am convinced that
at this station the constant daily inhalation OF
carbolic acid was the means of preventing all
the Enacclimated people who encountered the