New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-17
PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE.

MEASURES TAKEN AT QUARANTINE.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS ON ACCOUNT OF YELLOW
FEVER IN THE SOUTH-A TALK WITH HEALTH
OFFICER SMITH.
In consequence of the reports OF prevalence OF
yellow fever in many of the southern ports DR.
Smith Health Officer of this Port. has made careful
preparations to enforce IA thorough quarantine and
thus prevent the infection from reaching this city
by water There have been several cases OF yellow
fever already at Quarantine Station DR.. Smith
stated To TRIBUNE reporter yesterday that on
Monday night the steamer North Durham, Captain
John Owen, arrived at Quarantine with yellow
fever on board The steamer from Havana.
aud in accordance with the Health Officers orders,
the vessel brought 10 Just outside OF sandy
Hook where the Quarantine boat was awaiting
the arrival Of any vessels from injected ports. On
making preliminary examination of the crew and
cargo 1t was found that one man had yellow fever.
He was taken to the fever hospital -on SwInburne
Island. The cargo IS 10 he dlsinfected twice and
then the steamer will be ordered to Robbins Reef
aud will discharge there by means of lighters The
men VINO have been exposed TO the infection will
be kept under careful observation during the posi-
bic period of incubation, which DR.. Smith stated to
be five days.
Dr Smith then said 4" All vessels at present
coming from Vest Indian ports the eastern coast
of South America, Central America and the Mexi-
can ports ordered to report to the Senior Deputy
Health Officer on the Quarantine vessel Just outside
of Sandy Hook. Here the vessel and crew are sub
jected to careful preliminary examination and
the cargo dislnfected with sui phurOus acid twice
within the forty-eight hours during which the
vessel Is detained there. those that have yellow
fever on board or that have come from infected
ports, like Havana or MatanZas, whether any SICK
ness is found board not, ordered to anchor
at Robbins Reef ana the cargo is then discharged
by lighters. After the cargo has been discharged
by means of the lighters the whole vessel is
thoroughly ceansed and washed in every part
Then from fifty to one hundred pounds of sulphur
are set OIL fire in the hold and the matches are
closed, batJened down and covered by heavy TAR
paulins To prevent any danger OF t5ettng the yes
sci on fire. the sulphur is burned III iron vessels
which are placed i'll tubs of water There never
huah apu "
proved an adequate protection from any spread of
yellow fever to tins city. The discharging of the
cargo by lighters exposes every part of 1t TO the
pure fresh air of the narboT, and this proves very
efficient to dilute sand scatter any lingering germs
of infection and make 1t perfectly safe tor the
chandIse TO he used in the customary manner in
the channels of trade. This rule in regard to dis
charging cargo is not enforced when vessels are
from ports where they could not have been exposed
TO the Infections disease.
Circulars are sent to all the pilots at the begin
ming of the season for the enforcement of Quaran-
tine. and tney are instructed TO bring all vessels TO
anchor in the Lower Bay. Coasters and other
vessels that do not take pilots are boarded Oh APP
prOaching the NarrOws and ordered back into the
Lower Bay if they have come from Rio Grande or
New Orleans. We have in the hospital Swim
burne Island accommodation for four or five hun
dred beds. This hospital is fitted with every ap-
pliance for comfort and the care and treatment of
persons attacked by contagious disease that science
and experience can suggest. The buildings are
heated by steam. The ventilation OF every room
and ward is complete THAT even in cases of dis
eases of an offensive nature very little odor be
noticed. The sick, the cOnvacscent and those
waiting under observation after having been eX-
posed TO yellow fever some other contagious
disease can be kept wholly separated.
"Ihe period of incubation in cases of yellow
fever being five days, aud the steamers from
Havana usually making the run TO this port in four
DAYS these vessels are detained at Quarantine for
twenty-fOur hours after their arrival. This gives
ample time for "A thorough inspection of the vessel
cargo aud persons on board, and II would be diff
cult indeed for any suspicious case to slip by and
get INTO New-lork City. do not regard ycllo "
fever as a contagious disease. That Is, | do not
think that person could take It directly from
/ another in the same way scarlet fever might he
contracted. But the disease nfects places and
things A person taken with yellow fever in the
city ought to he removed to Quarantine soon as
possible before the disease has had time to inject
the place where the occurred. The wise course
10 pursue in view of the threatened invasion from
some OF the stricken towns IN the South is to eX-
ercse the greatest vigilance and promptness Il
prevent any lodement of the infection this cIty