New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-23
INFECTION IN IMPORTED RAGS
ALARM CAUSED BY CARGO FROM EGYPT.


The recent scare at New-Haven with regard
10 the bark Porro d Martina, bound from Alexandria
TO that city, loaded with for the Seymour Paper
Company of Windsor Locks Hartford seems not 10
be Justified by the facts known In this city, TRIBUNE
reporter saw Health Officer Smith who said he had de-
tanned the vessel in Lower Bay until he had satisfied
himself with regard to the cargo The bark started on
March &C. aud as long before any manifestation
of cholera epidemic In Egypt, he considered it proper
10 allow her 10 90 up the Sound her destination after
he had received OF T. q. O'Hara, the
ssnee that bales OF contaaed no mixture OF
rags from Bombay.
AT the Office of the Seymour Paper Company, No. IS
Johnst, r OHars. the president said that he did not
wish 10 be placed in the light OF person who would
reckessly import the germs of disease lie thought the
action OF the Board of Health at Newaven was taken
in greater misapprehenson o the acts than ought 10
exist In the minds Of public officers The Seymour Paper
Company had been established twentyfour years. and
Lad constantly large business In Egyptian rags
Egypt produced annually what might be called "rag
CROP Of 5000 tons and OF this the company collected
more than 5000 Because the rags Of Egypt were ex-
ceedngy gritty sand Of the desert had been
found necessary subject them TO cleaning operation
This often. but improperly called washing 1t was
series OF whppings by steam .whppers, which removed
this purpose established in Caro- and Alexandria.
Tue company had Its rag-eaferers, who covered tho
whole OF Egypt. gathering rags everywhere Oh course
they had satnerers Damiea and other towns where
there had been many deaths But from the system FOL
lowed II would Ice ks before these could posi-
bly, come the depots at Alexandria and Cairo, and he
generally reckoned that rag was rom ak % eight
months transit from the purchased by tho
galherer to the time when the bale containing IL was
opened on tue banks o. the RIVER o course
would be destroyed on the spot ana would never get 10
the depots TO be whipped and baled.
Mr.. O'Hara remarked that there was prejudice
against Oriental rags, which natural but stu
hs rs.. ooaSs In and from
those In Egypt Careful collectors wond mol be aoe 70
Laa,1 infa al VIII Ole
not careful but took everything That came
along without asking any Gass'ns EoSsS sass OF
rags The child OF woman, Que OF 200 employees OF tho
Sed The motner objected to the chds being Isolated
first seized and before they could obtain the mecca
spite 90 Of the strctest prchbitions by a woman
who worked In the mill She was at once discharged In
few days her two little were attacked by
smallpox scourge but not fatally The first woman
working In New York rags. and IN this instance-tee
only twenty -four yearshe business had greatly
to his regret been indirectly the Of the death OF
being. Yet the collection OF rags necessity,
Mr. OHara added that he had talked with medical
upon subject at different times, but especially somc
found that many were Of the opinion that ehcera
not contagious but that it was true epidemic Tbs
dangerous. These might float In the air. or might as tho
majority believed be through the seepsge
OF RECOMMENDATIONS fluid nto drinking wells But con-
tact poweress to do harm twas Tar dnerent WIZ
the virus of smallpox which crept through the pores OF
lie willing to adtnt that he was aI"sys <snao A
collected In Newly IL WAS
sion that any rags Egypt originally tAned with
anna this dried out oi tne oy the internal
heat OF the bales Of smallpox poisoning from
rags had occurred at the time hen there
WAS small pox In Egypt, and many persons had honestly
belisy al that the malady communicated by Esyp
tan rags Tho cases. however, were not In his MILL ana
ne could say nothing positive ABOUT them only this that
In al. experiences probability very strong that
domestic rags were topiame -
The reporter the ViceConeul OF the italian
Kingdom show cd the order Issued by the Minister
of the Interior dated June 81 providing Tor the qnaran-
tine OF the KIND for all vessels entering italian
ports from Egypt There also clause pronblting
the of old clothes met washed
The yioe-Consul said he believed the phrase mot
washed referred TO old clothes which would be In 81
probability wooens imported for the purpose OF manus
featuring them into shoddy goods Italians would GER
family purchase old clothes from Egypt for the Pur
pose OF wearing them because they had special fashena
Of their own in cut and eolors. TO which they were
strongly attached especially In sicily and Napes where
the iDhabtants the poorest class In Italy. Iners
1000 Italians In Egyptl5O00 In Alexandria loos
In Cairo and remainder scattered the rrst OF
country. Among these there many rag ooliec
ofs American and for Italian houses for lta
did large business IN Egyptian rags or course there
was some dar ger Italians dying from the pest BACK
to Italy might be infected. but the quarantine wou9
settle that IL would be Vigorously aintained LOT
stern necessity Inere n.ed been no fear that s
migrants from Italy would bring injection via tnsm "
this country.