New-York tribune., 1882-04-08
THE WORK AT QUARANTINE
ATALK WITH HEALTH OFFICER SMITH


| TALK WITH HEALTH OFFICER SMITH
HANGERS or The SPREAD OF CONTAGIOUS AND IN
FEcTIoUs DISEASES BY IMMGRASTs-THE RULES
! OF THE NATIONAL BOARD or HEALTH.
In consequence of the expected large increase
In immigration this year 1891. some anxiety /,
felt by the health authorities lest infectious and con-
tasious diseases shall be introduced by immigrants
The Health officer Of the port Dr. smith, in his report
to the Legislature calls attention to this danger IN
| speaking Of this subject to a TRIBCSE reporter Ur
Smith said yesterday:
"Welseted principles for the protection of he DOR,
from contagious and infections diseases have governed
the administration of quarantine for years The history
o. the port affords convincing evidence that without
proper quarantine restrictions yellow fever would reach
| the cities OF NewYork and Brooklyn almost
every day during The
Immigration at this port from 135O70
in 1879 To 327,371 in 1880 and 455,6S7 I'm 1881 Small
pox unusually prevalent during the latter part Of
1850 at many OF the ports OF departure for emigans
and fears existed the period OF incubation Of the
disease-fOurteen days-is much greater than the
average voyage of steamships from foreign ports that
might pass In Its latent state far into the interior OF
country before development 1t was evident that we
were approaching OF the unexplained cycles OF &C
tvity of the disease. urged upon the managers ani
agents of steamship lines, early in 1881,
immediate and active cooperation on their part
at and near the ports OF departure, TO
ecton, to its deveopmentby vaccination. The
result has been most beneficial and not only have all
the lines, with the exception Of one or two promsedh
cooperate but they sent out circulars and agents
inform emigrans Of the restrictions OF quarantine At
New-York. and that they mast abide by them At the
ports OF departure there is examination OF all
emigrants; and vigilance is exercised by the medical
officers OF ships in order early isolation OF
developed The effect OF the cooperation Of the
steamship lines is shown in the fact that during ak
months ending July /, 1891, thirty vessels with
developed cases OF smallpox arrived at Quarantine
and in the ensuing six months only ten"
What is the of the dissatisfaction and the OBJ
jections expressed by the Maritime Exchange and
shipping people recently, in regard to the FORMULATION
of an order the National Board OF Health T. asked the
reporter.
Under the reserved powers OF the National Board
rules were adopted by that body November H. lssl
with regard to bills Of health Some OF the regulations
are 40 defective in construction that carried out az this
port they would be likely to involve the Health officer in
vexatious litigation and impose upon commerce oppres
sivc restrictions without commensurate beneht IN the
protection Of the public health Rule No declares that
all merchant vessels sailing from foreign port where
and infectious diseases exist for the United
must obtain from the consul vice-consu or other
consular agent OF the United States at the port o depart
ure bill Of health In duplicate Negectng to do this
the master OF vessel IL made liable to fine OF $1,000
The rule, it stands will compel the Health Oihcer
In urve that contagious and infectious diseases exist at
the port from which the vessels come before they can en-
force the law. La great majority OF cases 10 secure
the proof would involve q burdensome measure OF
vexation and expense. The rule should DC ameh"ed
by making obligatory all vessels coming from or
egn ports where there are accredited repres snIatfSsW
the United Ia bring bill Of health, whether tltfe
contagious ana infectious diseases a' n'
port of departure. 80, ,-.-,n-s
provides that all persons arriving a any port 81 efs & m
the United States found not uihcienty pIotected lo
have been properly vaccnated or shaI nave p0u , ,
perod OF incubation from date of last exposure But
there no isOn in the law which % enable toe
Health officer to compel the owner and eonslgees OF p
senger lines reasonable charges Tor expense incur
red IN the care subsistence of the persons de ac
The State Quarantine Law makes no provision 10, the
detention Of passengers except those known 10 hago
been recently exposed 10 smallpox; and II absolutely
the detention OF any well person longer tnah
cleanliness. The detention on tNe
vessel OF persons who found nsufcicnty protected
smallpox until such protection is secuIeu - .e
only alternative left for the Health Ohcer' but 70 W
tain IA steamship at Quarantine several days because
few or even a considerable number OF the phrsenyen
Will not submit to be vaccnated there being no evidence
show that they have been exposed 10 lnecloh "Oli
be unreasOnaby oppressive 10 the most extensive ana
Important commercial interests or the Port OF New
York More twenty passenger steamships enter
this narbor every week feighied with thousands OF
pssengeIs and cargOeS representing mlons 0 dolafr
TIe detnton m Quarantine any considerable number
of these vessels for the time necessary WORLD result IN
practical Abandonment by the Trans A'iauc pa5se
ger steamship companies OF the fore Vi Ne"-ioiAi"
landing immigrant Passengers
During the last year has been found necessary 70
remove Immigrant passengers TO holman isiahu Ifoa
several vessels account Of their exposure 10 con
tarions diseases The detention OF these persons was
pla IN duty. But the incement weather ahu ihe colt
ton OF the buildings at hoffman ishq na & ho' P' In
that they should be kept under 9DselNa.Ou
plcaton made TO the Comm ssoners OF ilgai,lo
for assistance IN the emergency foruuy @ tx pa es
suitable for solating the patients wAS pro- ,4s
Wards Island but with the assurance on the paft u a
Commissioners that It would not pe convenient ioi l-
to offer the accommodation again