The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-09-01


on orders from DR.. Tallmadge. which had
been given ont on his first trip, there were
signs Of activity aboard and the immi.
grants, as If expecting to be landed. could
be seen hurrying up and down the deck.
looking in the direction of the Staten
island shore and occasionally waving hats
or handkerchiefs. Within five minutes
after the Moravia was boarded for the sec
ond time she had hoisted her anchor. got
up steam and turned her bow in the dIrec-
tiOn of the ocean. She made a long detour
around the feet, hugging the Long island
shore and passing ont of the narrows
for the lower bay shortly before noon.
THE CAPTAIN NEEDS INvEsTIGATIoN.
A phase of the case of the Moravia which
deserves investigation, and which should be
looked into with thoroughness, is the ac-
tion of the captain of the Moravia in con-
tinuing the voyage to this country under
the conditions which prevailed on his ship.
If the disease broke ont on the day follow
ing his departure from Hamburg. why did
he not, those connected with the quaran-
tine department ask, turn back home in
stead of bringing the disease to a new coun-
tryf
The representatives of the Associated
Press received message from New York
quarantine, stating that 1t was reported
that DIR. jenkins pronounced the cases
aboard the MOravia Asiatic cholera. DR..
Jenkins was interviewed. and declared
that ne was not prepared at pres
ent snt.; to pronounce mna. an opinion; pr: ID:
o meteorological examination to be made
of the bedding and effects of the Moravia's
twenty-five victims. The Doctor is very
reticent. lie says: Il got the surgeons re-
port at about 10 o'clock. and at once called
my deputies in consultation. We arrived
at q conclusion, but what it was / posi-
lively refuse at this time to say. You have
observed" he added in q suggestive way,
that the Asiatic cholera was diagnosed as
cholerine In all the infected ports by the
local authorities at the outset but subse-
quent developments proved every one of
such cases to be the actual and genuine
Asiatio plague" DR.. Talinage insinuated
that he believed the crisis had come, and
from this time forward the closest vigil
would be kept at the lower stations down
the hsrbor to prevent the disease from get
ting near the city.
The MoravIa is now anchored in Graves
end bay. between Fort Hamilton and Nor
of the main channel. She is out of the
way of passing vessels. She will be indef-
Initely detained. The passengers and crow.
even to the cabin boy, will be landed on
Hoffman island. Every bit of clothing was
disinfected and every person bathed. When
the ship is cleaned she will be dislnfected,
and the passengers then put aboard and de-
tanned there for an indefinite time, being
Obliged to Land on the island daily for in
spection aud baths Before starting down
the bay health officer Jenkins telegraphed
Secretary of State Foster, notifying him of
the twenty-five deaths from so-caIled chol-
erine on board of tho Moravia during her
voyage.
THE PEST ISLAND.
This is the first time Hoffman island has
seen such active service since 1884 and 1887,
when cholera scares disturbed the country.
A great many persons will remember the
island, which gets its name from the late
Governor Hoffman, as bong about two
miles south of the Narrows. 1t is built on
the sand-bar known to pilots as the West
bank. and rises abruptly out of the water
on pile Of rocks The island ITSELF cover
ing few acres, is constructed of sand in
closed IN crib-work, which In turn is pro-
tected by rlp-rap About nine hundred i'm
migrants can be handled there at one time.
On 1t are the germ proof dornfftofies for
disinfecting and In every direction the
assertion, so often made by some captains,
that the Now York quarantine is the
safest In the world is emphasized.
Every known precaution Is taken on
Hoffman island to make il proof against
germs. The island and floors of the build
lngs are made of asphalt. while the ceilings
are constructed of galvanized and CORFU
gated iron. The partitions are also built
of iron, while the smaller walls in some
places are built of white enameled brick.
There are no mattresses in the dormitories,
and cots and simplest kind of hammocks
suspended over frames of iron. Steam does
everything, from dislnfecting to cooking.
Bath-tubS to the number of sfxty-eIght
made of metal, will be utilized for bathing
the immigrants, and II 1t becomes neces-
fuse water itself can be disinfected before
1t is DISCHARGED In the harbOr.
President Wilson, of the health board.
to-day remarked that he was not surprised
that the cholera had arrived and that the
city officials were prepared to fight it. The
island on which the patients will be sent has
not yet been made public, although agreed
upon by the health board. Should Swine burn
island be required for the care of the
cholera patients the hair mattresses now
in use there Will be dispensed with and
wire mattresses substituted. The guaran-
tine commissioners have filed an order for
a number of soft wire pillows These are
more easily cleaned and are less liable TO
retain any germs of the disease. shonld
they be used with contagious patients.
As to the danger of the infection of the
Croton water, President Wilson said that
thenuisances along the water shed had been
8bated as much as possible, and the only
thing that could be done now was to
remove the houses along the bank of the
river, but as there were q, 600 of them he
did not think the scheme practicable. The
board to-day issued circular to all rail-
ways. ferries, steamboat offices, factories.
etc.. where q large number of people are
likely to meet ordering that adjoining the
waitipg-rooms OF in the factories there
should be set aside an air-tlght room.
These Will be temporary places of isolation
should cases of cholera suddenly develop.
Closets etc., are to be inspected daily. The
hoard has also fitted mp "a dust-proof'
room. where meteorological examinations
will be made. A supposed cholera dis
charge will be cultivated until the pres
ence or absence of the germs is made posi-
tive. All discharges sent by the inspectors
to the board will be examined in this room.
CHoLERINE DESCRIBED.
Cholerine is thus described: There are
certain premonItory symptoms. called by
some authorities the first stage of the dis
ease, to which the name of cholerine has
been given. These consist of general feel
ing of uneasiness. weakness. nausea and
diarrhea. and sometimes vomiting: the
elections at first. though frequent, are nat
ural. Cholerine is usually caused by eat
ing over-rIpe fruit, and. while it may de-
velop into Asiatic cholera, it is not always
q necessary precursor of that dread disease.
cheese which must be taken into the sys-
tenn 60 produce cholerine must be large. It
differs from cholera proper In this. as q
single germ of the Asiatic plague intro
duced into the intestines takes q rapid
course, and the whole mucous membrane,
In the course oil a couple of days, is eaten
away.
A new source Of danger from cholera has
been discovered bv the health authorities,