New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-03

LETTER FROM HEALTH OFFICER sMI1I-wARNiNa
To MANAGERS OF STEAMSHIP LINES.
The prevalence Of smallpox in foreign ports has
called forth the following letter from the Health
Officer Of the Port: ,,.- 100,
To Orrnrrs and agents ~ Steamship Idss'nqcr Lnt[s
In the interest nfthe great cities that environ hr po
Of New York. and ~ the Interior c"mininit'cs ,"sl,
inc humiliation ~ millions ~ people. the undersigned
consider 1t his luty 10 cl The attention 81 the nor,
the mort Of New York to the following facts
The immigration at thi- time from European and tg
lsh morris To The United states il unparalleled in ~ his
tory In many Of the ports Of departure rh1l"N ~ pre-
yaiing Ia unusual extent. In CONS Pu'hcc OF th,
er.at number ~ rinigrani- who are often waiting NJ
these pnr's passage. who. from circumstance are
compelled 10 seek rnirrant lodging hons'- IL iLe h"-
unhealthy and infectious portions of the city ~ the port
o departlirc smallpox board the passenger steamers
arrival o. this port n. been III the LAST ion' h'nnS
Thc cascs which are developed before arrival NJ
this port constitute iut small portion al the unl"r
inate results consequent the "Ntcn-lNr inlcct" ~
emigrani- nj the port ~ departure Ihr iucnhhtNc
The average passage Of steamships from many 81 hr
European aud English ports to Sew York, that there II
rcnt dHngrr 0f the disease developing Tar ~ t INT nor
of the country II will be apparent that no amount 81
vigilance AZ the port of Ncwlork can prevent ms
result since the infected omrant passes Quarantine
perfectly we'll n j. of importance, therefore, mat va"
c, authorities Ia these ports employ every available
the propagation of this di-ca-" Much may hrdnn toward
securing this result by ry-lrinhilr thnr"lsh ana l,
inspection 10y competent medical Officers ~ every "Wi
grant aud the vaccination Of all unprotected persons
will ,lo much Ia accomplish this object w the abscncr
If either novcr or inrnafion on the part Of the cousi.
,ntcd nuthorities 10 do this the owners aud agents Of
steamship lines should take II their hands IN
Inspect direct and control the movements OF rmgrant
passengers from the time oi ihrr nrrlv, al thr oil
II is believed that Ihouand- "i lrr are mn" rilri ana
many sacrificed. Thc-c though hN TAR the greatest arr
not the only evils which proper precautions would
| The condition aud management ~ too many ~ the
passenger steamers now plying between this aud Eu
rOpcan ports for the proper care ui tc directions ami
contagious Diseases which 80 commonly prevail Oilrc
tionabc and rrprchcn-hlc Hospital accommodations,
II such they may he called are IN some insiances pro
yidcd In the midst ~ the DIVIDED st"efagr; neither
! light nor air l. sufficiently "uWicd or proper iSola
| tion secured. The need Of the first two Increases
the severity and iataity oi urh-r ana lhr neglect o
the latter EXPOSES the whole strcaRc To the imned
effects Of the conagon, and remotely the pOpuous
communities through winch me lnlccl'i cngrtr parr
or with which they mingc. Not only the preservation
Of the heal and life of many thousands OF human be-
ings which otherwise VIII De sioln'' pu SOUND econ
oiny the interests OF the commercial community de
mSnds more careful isolation ana better hospital accom-
| mediation for those sick OF contagious diHcascr.
! In December. ESQ pnrrcngcr steamship ron Med
teranean porte entered thr loIl H ORR WIN ~
pcr-OnH In the stecragc woo "h"hl hl smallpox III
the tcnth day Of Development one OF these cases Nae
circulated freely among the crowd and the other IN
a steeragc "bunk" All Hccragc passengers Kept
in Quarantine at IIofman- Island several days for Oh
NAV 18th inst. passenger steamship from port in
the British Isles entered Quarantine with S2j rccragt
| was isolated The whole number ~ sceragc parsen
gers. except the sick VINO were sent to hospital
removed TO Honman's Island for observation, during
the usual incubation period Of the disease.
Notwithstanding the serious Inconvenience To all, and
better than the admission Of cargo OF Infected emf
grants TO the dense population Of our cities aud t'
crowded thOrOugharcs Of the interior.
Better than either, would be such wstchfulnoss ant
vigilance the part Of medical officers would
early aud complete isolation OF the sick In hospital room
that would afford sufficient ventilation and comfort e
the sick and opportunity for the complete seCluSion
real or suspected OF contagious disease Hospitals
should be upon the main dcck-never In the crowded
stecrage When this Is mpracticable, they should be
| coated ~ to include port lights for ligh
! aud ventilation instead Of coop or pen hastily bull
between decks and In the midst of the Storage will
veniators which allow the escape OF the infectious ut
mOsphere surrounding the patient among the steerag
| passengers. such violations Of hygiene and common
sense will in the future be- likely To subject all passcn
gers to quarantine OF observation who may be unfOr
tunate have taken passage on steamships havnl
smallpox on board, with such hospital accommodation
| as have been described.
Twice daily 1t should be the duty OF the medical Office
visit and Inspect every part OF the Storage that al
caees be detected and Immediately isolated. Salts
factory evidence OF this will the owners OF passen
vessels much time and commercial interest
In general not little embarrassment and the under
| signed trouble and anxiety which he would be yer.
| happy 10 escape. WIN M. SMITH,
| Health Officer, Port OF New-York.