Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-05

which would serve as an outpost or advance
guard for several adjacent ports, and to
which their infected vessels could be sent.
To the first plan the following objections
were obvious: The great expense involved,
and absence of that control by the Ma
tional Board over the disbursement OF the
funds which Is required by Federal law.
In regard to the second plan, observation
had shown that as far as the number Of
infected vessels was concerned, one general
station was ample for the wants Of dozen
or more ports of the size Of those on the
South Atlantic coast. The advantages Of
this plan were economy, direct control OF
the National Board, efficiency OF admins
tration and freedom from the local prefer
euces, political influences and jeslousies Of
rival ports, and that the ports would be
relieved from the risk to health and COM
merce consequent upon the proximity Of
infected vessels.
This latter plan having been deemed pre-
ferable. an examination of the coast showed
that the ports of South Carolina, Georgia
and Florida, as far south as st. Augustine,
could be properly regarded as one quaran-
tine district, which for convenience may be
nominated dthe Sapelo District" Near the
centre of this district is Blackboard Island,
situated on the south side of Sapelo Sound,
coast of Georgia. This island is well
adapted for the purposes OF q general
quarantine, and already belongs to
the government. Sapelo sound is next
to Port Royal, the finest entrance south
OF Norfolk, and possesses the advantages
of direct and deep channel, with amnle room
inside and safe anchorage for vessels. 1t is
remote from all centres of population, and
is thereby secure from unauthorized visitors
and persons undergoing quarantine have no
inducement to escape.
This site having been. selected, the project
Of establishing a general quarantine station
for the use and protection of the district was
submitted to the authorities OF all the ports
interested namely. Georgetown, Charleston,
st. Helena, Port Royal, Savannah, Dsrien,
dneluding DoboY), Brunswick, st. MarY's,
Fernandina, Jacksonville and st. Augustine.
The authorities of all these ports have.
without exception, passed resolutions CIV
ing their UNQUALIFIED Endorsement of the
nlan. and have pledged themselves to send
all infected vessels to Sapelo station.
SURVEYS, plans and estimates for COM
plete quarantine station were made and ap-
proved in the spring Of 1880, and Congress
asked for an appropriation for the establish
ment of the same. This was refused by
Congress. One Representative from one Of
the States mentioned, saying to the board,
sThis station may be, as you say, necessary
for the health of the country, but DO not
hear ANYTHING OF it from my constituents"
Two courses were now open to the Ma
tional Board: One, to let the matter rest
where it stood, with the responsibility for
disaster. should It occur, at the door of Con-
Uress. The other, to take from the current
funds at the disposal of the board sum
sufficient for the maintenance OF a tent hos
pital as a temporary expedient.
In view of the public good and the
pledges already made and received the lat
ter course was decided upon, and carried
into effect as soon as the adjournment of
Congress in June, 1880, rendered 1t certain
that no reconsideration Of its refusal could
be had.
The station was first opened on the 14th
of August, and has been since maintained
each year during the quarantine season.
During the next session OF Congress an
other appeal was made by the board in
behalf of this station, which Ggoi" met NTH
a REFUSAL.
And now Congress seems disposed not
only to deny an appropriation Tor perma-
nent establishment, but to withhold even
the amount necessary for maintenance.
Since the establishment of this station Its
operations have been as follows:
During the season of 1881 five vessels were
sent to the station for treatment. All came
from West Indian ports, and all had cases
nj yellow fever on board. Out of total
of eiphty-two persons there occurred nine
teen cases of yellow fever. One OF these
died at sea, and two were put ashore In
foreign port. OF the sixteen that reached
the station two died Zone within an hour of
arriyaN. and the rest made good recoveries.
In the absence of general quarantine sta
tion these infected vessels, with their car
goes of portable poison, must have been
treated at local guarantees; some OF
which are less than two miles from
the ports they were designated to protect
and lust in the track OF passing vessels.
The present condition OF local guarantees,
and the experience OF the past, alike show
that the danger of infection passing from
the local station to the adjacent port is no
inconsiderable one.
AS soon as the vessels at Sapelo station
were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected,
and the sick had been detained sufficient
time to render them no longer capable OF
conveying the disease, the vessels were dis
charged and proceeded to their ports OF des-
tination. The histories OF the vessels were
followed up and in no instance was there
any further recurrence OF yellow FEVER on
them.
The usefulness and Importance of sta
ton of this character to the Southern ports
can best be shown by Lrief consideration
of the principles and practice OF quarantine.
The treatment of an infected vessel Is as
follows: The sick are Immediately removed
to hospital, where they can be conveniently
and properly treated. The well are also
taken on shore, and placed apart from the
sick, thus at once removing them from all
daily, and II taken STICK transferred to
hospital.
The vessel receives preliminary dtsin-
lection with sulphur gas as protection to
the persons employed In the process OF pu-
rifcation. After this the vessel Is COM
pletely discharged of all ballast or cargo
and thoroughly cleaned, especial care being
taken that this process is carried into
places not readily accessible, which are
Considered the most probable indus Of the
poison.
This process of cleaning is very ardu-
GUS one, and requires unceasipg vigilance
on the part of the quarantine officer to see
that no corners or hidden spaces
are Neglected. When clean the en-
tire surface of each portion OF the
vessel, floors, walls and ceilings, are
washed by means Of force pump In order
that the second fumigation about to follow
NAV attack the poison in moist condition;
the sulphur gas, SIS is well known, being
much more destructive to the lower forms
of organic life when combined with water
than In the dry state. In conducting this
fumigation, every separate compartment
holds, cabins, fOrecastle, galley, ETC., are
separately disinfected, and especial attention
is given that every piece OF bedding, cloth
ing, or any article capable Of retaining the
poison shall be freely exposed for at least
twenty -four hours to the full action OF the
gas.
In the process of fumigation, the plan
pursued at this station, so lar as Is KnoWn'
Is novel. Combustion Of sulphur In any
given space is limited by the amount OF
oxygen gas present. II more sulphur Is
used than the oxygen can combine With, 1t
sfmnlv remains unconsumed in the recepta-
Gle. The method adopted here is to sup
nlv from bellows worked on deck con-
slant stream of air through pipes which
lead to the bottom Of the iron vessels con-
tanning the sulphur. In this manner there
is no limit to the amount OF sulphur gas
that can he supplied, and It is delivered IN
der a certain amount of pressure which
forces It into every part Of the vessel, pos
sibiy into the pores Of the wood ltss,s.
Occasionally, II 10 the Judgment OF the
officer it Is advisable, some portions OF the
vessel are subjected to third fumigation.
The vessel Is then deemed safe, and after
q certificate given expressing the opinion Of
the ofIlceE to that effect, is allowed to leave
for port of destination where she has to
stop ct the local quarantine station and re-
port to the oficer In charge. He then grants
pratique or detains the vessel until he Is sat
isfed that she is fit to enter the port.
at the Sapelo station there is no
fixed period OF detention for veSSeLs,
ZACH one is detained only long
DuI -A"Toughly carry out the
enough to La1.-- Persons are de-
processes above describeu. - -~nn0h
tanned under observation only long enS--s
for the inspector in charge to De saGis s