New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-28
GUARDING AGAINST SMALLPOX.
HOW THIS PORT Is PROTECTED.

HOW IliIS lDhI II IhOl ~ LED
TALK WITH THE HEALTH OFFICER AS TO THE
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
IN view of the number OF eases OF smallpox
in this and other cities. and the declaration Of the Ma
ona Board ~ Health that f. epidemic in the country,
TRIBUNE reporter called the Health Officer Of the
Fort Of Ncw-York. Dr. william NJ. Smith, to learn
whether the quarantine rcga ions stringent as
they could well De and to obtain information in re-
gard TO quarantine matters generally. Or. smith was
found ready furnish information in regard to bis office
and its duties
apo you consider" the reporter inquired. " that the
sycm Of quarantine is perfect it can be made at
this port"
In most respects It is" DR.. Smith replied. 1.-The
Ncw-York quarantine system has been one of growth
The for he proven ION OF the INTRODUCTION OF
Guarantinaple diseases through this port and for the
crushing Of the germs OF such diseases when exist
Ing vessels The infection OF yellow fever
complete possible, with the exception Of smallpox
&c port OF NewYOrk is for several reasons one OF the
most il not the most exposed In the world 10 the INTRO
duction of infectious and contagious diseases First
from It's proximity to those localities In the West Indies
where those diseases constantly prevail and s great
commerce with them, from which during the summer
months these diseases are frequently brought by both
sailing and steam vessels On steam vessels owing 10
the rapid transit these diseases liable to be in
latent condition among passengers or crews on arrival
at this port Second: The unparalleled tide OF imm,gra
from the localities il Continental Europe or the British
Isles which are In the worst sanitary condition"
Are the requirements here more rigid than at any
Their port IN the country T.
"NJ. they are not II they rigid rs they are
nj some Others il is safe TO say that the Of the
port OF New-York wonld be greatly injured. The rresi-
dent the Boar Of Health Of of the great cities on
our Southern seaboard informed me somewhat more
than year ago that vessels from yellow fever ports
suspected OF being infected with that disease were quar-
antncd from fifteen 10 thirty days 1t Is well known to
the shipping merchants OF Newly Ork and Brooklyn that
The quarantine A. New-OreaHs is 40 rigd-nOt 70 say
opprassyctla trade to and from that port for the
most part Withdrawn during portion OF the year. If
you had asked me II the system adopted at this port
If, cttye at any other port in This country,
should uuhcsatngly answer yes cannot better rep
resent the impression concerning the efficiency Of the
N-w-Y0rk quarantine system among those qualified
o. ud the methods and adopted here than
By quoting OF the president of the National
Board Health when visiting Quarantine in 1850. Be
ing asked for Suggestions to its MANAGEMENT, he re
piled: The NewYork quarantine is the model quaran-
tine OF the world"
"Do you think that the and revised rules Of the
National Board Of Health VIII Afford sufficient protection
against smallpox I"
Nothing short of the detention Of all persons who
have been exposed smallpox" the Health Ohccr
Piled the iull incUOatiyc period OF that contagon
has elapsed until the protective influence OF VAGINA
surveillance sill b. easily made complete and chectua
"Ifprctcctiye measures are not established until im-
migrants reach tins port Of what use will they BET"
Compa li;tc Use 80 far rs vaccination Is con
ccrutd The only other cert protection against latent
coEta4lon among Immigrants Is their detention until
fourteen days have elapsed from the last exposure, and
il there is no case of te disease board the vessel on
arrival tie detention OF all persons until the completion
of the ull HcubGtiNc period, dating from the uht the
immirJuts embarked. When i've TO seven thousand
mt Z "A ~
quepty the GuriGg lie past year, twill readily be
seen i,eq nate Accommodation could be found
Tor them OF the vessel, while under observations and 10
deaE chem in The crowded Storage 81 The Vessel "oud
be even worse
"Can any improvements in the present system be
u been seeking TO improve the management for
several months have endcayUred 10 prevent the ad
mission through the por OF the latent contason OF the
disease uhHtf colSide'dlOl' bt!cNInS lhIt '.e olu
addge true in this An ounce OF prevention Is
worth POUND OF cur, have u4htd the managers Of
passenger steamship Hhos 81 l'' port ~ tueL llHtAuo
with the owners aud au Ortics AZ tue port OF departure
~ to police the immigrant resorts al those ports ana
t"us ana IN preventing the IhItcuoh oI Immigrants
before they cmbarN; ~, to nave the Immigrants III
,pected by the medical officers OF passenger steamships
within twenty -four after going board ascoi
tain tney protected 10y YacClnatOn ana to vICC.-
nate all unprotected persons Al the conference held
with the managers referred to, June 20, 1881, de-
cooperate IN such measures as would prevent the
Is52, another conference was Lelu, ana 1t
was recommended that the European agents OF
he companies represented De Instructed to inform in
tending Passengers that unless they were yaccnated be-
foo leaving nome tdey would be subjected to vaccine
fourteen days after their arrival il also recon-
Thar they should cuucdNOr To secure at the port
t.C vaccination 81 VINO nat
cctrd previous protection, ANA that they should require
the vaccination IaTd Wi hin twcHtytUur hUuTs alter
dciaTt OF those WlO had escaped OF refused the
foregoing OppOr UnltDs; that tsodcj hosp al accom-
mediation bee provided, ana iuat the stcan hip mcdical
officer ni,h each Ficcnated passenger with card,
sucd by himself which should be written printed
'ilOtCCttu' w
WHAT has been the effect Of those Recommendations"
number entering this port Injected with small
poA. From January l. 1851, 10 july l. 1851 only thirty
Yrr-ta infected with smallpox entered TINS port ana
from july /, 1851, 10 January l. 1882 only ten Injected
vessels nave entered"
suppOsng," said the reporter, " that nan, the
day before sailing from Liverpool, X infected with
smallpox, what guarantee have you that he VIII not he
the OF spreading the disease after ais arrival at
tins pOrti'
% Ii he is yaccinatcd," Dr. Smith replied within
three days after being injected the vaccination wall
probably prevent the development of the disease, be-
The vaccine matter introduced into the circulation
develops rapidly than the cOutagiOn oi smallpox.
The vaccination, II adopted al this port,
ia the oI person infected at the port OF departure,
would, most ONLY modify tine severity Of the disease
would not prevent lis development Hence the at
O securing the necessary protective measures
at the port 81 emDarkatlOu.
Three Of smallpox were reported 10 the
County Health Board In jersey city yesterday-One In
Jersey D.ty, iiObuken and one IN west HobOken.
The first OF smallpox TINS season IN staten Island
young that place, it Is Thought contracted the
disease by handling injected garments ia the dye works
where she was employed