The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-20

I'D lie HARDY'S REPORT TO THE
SANITARY ASSOCIATION.

IRA History OF the quarantine ana the
Necessity of New System for sa-
-snnah-The Various Systems Dis
,,,ssed-Their Advantages and Dis
odvantages Pointed Out.
NJ C. LeHardY's annual report as
.a1ical director Of the Citizens Sanitary
,..ociation is a complete discussion of the
.-arsnttne question. DR.. LeHardY has
s,,ds the subject of quarantine one OF deep
-.rdv and his views will be read with in~
terest. He says:
r-,rn early historical times quarantine has
IN IN vogue to prevent the introduction OF
,Ctayious diseases into maritime cities and
Countries through shipping 1t has been vigor-
o1slv enforced against the plague, Aslatc
O Ss,sra smallpox, yellow fever, etc When
basad upon correct principles and administered
10 synerienced persons, having the proper ap
Chances and the necessary means at their com
msni. il is efficacious, offers out silght lmped-
-IsIt TO commerce and is beneficial to the port
a. veil as to the shipping. But when practlced
aCcoriing to the method which formerly pre-
ailad ali over the world it is senseless, cruel
md harharous, an outrage upon the feelings of
EsiilT,a1ify and a most powerful engine for the
5sstruction of commerce, while it affords but
little or no protection.
This method was based upon the belief that
,ba most virulent diseases would die out after
sartain length OF time and that after such time
there would be no danger in admitting the vessel
into port. Accordingly all infected or suspected
vessels we're ordered to anchor at some point,
,5ar- they were detained for at least forty days.
No communication whatever was allowed with
the shore no matter what might be the con-
dtion or the sufferings of the passengers and
crew. Their fate was OF no consequence; They
we're regarded as public enemies. Should any
ona break through the quarantine GORDON and
bac9urht he would be burned to death or dis
narched in some other cruel manner.
II was while such quarantine was in operation
az European ports against the plague that this
dread disease committed its greatest ravages
in Europe 1t was while quarantine of long de-
tention was most vigorously enforced that New
York Baltimore, Philadelphia, Charleston. New
orleans and other cities north and south suf-
Tered from their worse epidemicS of yellow
fever.
A REFORM IN QUARANTINE.
This form of quarantine has now been dis
carded by all nations having large commercial
interests and by all progressive seaports in this
and other countries The worUhlessness of the
forty days quarantine against yellow fever and
It's destructive influence upon commerce had at
the beginning of this century become SO mani
fest that northern cities got rid of it. They so
improved their methods of inspection and dis
infection as to make themselves secure against
contagion, and at the same time reduced the
period of detention, so that ships are rarely
kept at quarantine more than Two or three
days. The greater facilities thus afforded to
shipping have induced the commerce of foreign
southern ports; and since the yellow fever cpl
denies of 1S76-79 when we of the South Allan
tic and Gulf coasts virtually closed our doors to
trade between May and November by long de-
tsntion of vessels at quarantine, all of our sum-
mer traffic with the West Indies and South
America has likewise drifted northward.
Fer many years past experiments have been
made on board United States naval vessels and
elsewhere to find some way by which the ''in-
fe ton (germs) of yellow fever could be thor
oughly and quickly destroyed in the holds of
ships
The freezing process has been repeatedly
tried and has proven utterly worthless Sweet
ening the hilge water, washing the timberS with
mercuric solutions and fumigating the vessel
with dioxide of sulphur gas containing Is to IS
per cent. of sulphur, forced in under pressure,
have been found effective in New Orleans and
elsewhere. But the best results yet obtained
have come from the use of hot air or steam
heat. II has been demonstrated all over the
world that the microbes germs of all diseases
dangerous to man are destroyed in ten or fifteen
minutes if subjected to the action of these
agents at temperature of from 1900 to $500 F.
NEW QUARANTINE SYSTEM.
A new system of quarantine known as "mari-
time sanita6ion" has been evolved from these
experiments, by which any port may be rem
dened perfectly secure against imported con-
tagion. Its objects are:
/. The thorough cleansing Of every foul ship
2. The destruction of ali the germs OF disease
8. The return of the vessel to commerce as
soon as she is rendered safe by sanitary meas
ures.
4 The disinfection of the cargo, of passengers
and crew and their effects; their detention at
quarantine when necessary.
5 The care of the sick.
The first station for the practice of maritime
sanitation was established on the Mississippi
river in 1888 by the state Of Louisiana, through
the exertions of Dr. Joseph Holt president of
the state board of health.
After the fearful epidemic of 1878, which ex-
FFt4FfN Fs,,,
OF the Mississippi valley, fearing that yellow
fever might again visit them. ana taught by the
national board of health to believe that it had
oeen introduced through the port of New Or
leans and might again be so introduced, re.
quired the enforcement at that port of a 40
Gays quarantine for their security.
ms long detention at quarantine very soon
broke up the summer commerce OF New Or
leans, and caused much suffering among her
people.
1t was while his native city was a victim of
llese restrictive mes sures, and when his feel
ings were wrought up by the sufferings of his
fellow citizens that DR.. Holt. who had care
lully studied the system and had acquired a per
isct fath In its success, went before the egisla-
lure and obtained an appropriation of SEQ, 900 to
olld plant and give maritime sanitation a
trial
HAS PROVEN SUCCESS.
WIN a rev improvements on the original,
suggested by experience. the new system has
proven perfect success During the seven
years Of its existence no contagious or infectious
disease has been introduced into the city through
shipping and her lost commerce has not only
oeen restored but nearly Quadrupled The
quarantine convention held in Montgomery,
tons:
RESOLVED, That this conference indorse the
NOT quarantine and disinfection system as at
present operated at New Orleans, La =, as the
o7sU one known for the prevention OF yellow
lever into the ports of the United States, and
recommend its uniform adoption.
ResoiUed, That it is the sense Of this confer
sace mat the best form of dianfection for per-
eonal baggage is moist heat"
IN pursuance OF these recommendation
warmly advocated by their health officer, our
ntster city or Charleston sent a commission to
o4aulne the quarantine system of New Orleans
ana mas established in her harbor one of the
mosV complete systems in ths world 1t has
~naFVes for the accommodation aud the I'M
tot1-lhg OF vessels. 1t has blast furnace for
Lorcng dioxide of sulphur gas, a steam cylin-
o9I LOT dlslntecting baggage, bedding, etc, and
q aux Tor supplying mercuric solution 1t has
% aIaIWay and cars dwelling houses for the
o1lcerS OF the station, barracks for the crews
L-u passengers of vessels, a hospital, d pest
1ouSSei storage warehouses for cargoes, steam
-1PutAa launch and boats for boarding. The
S Illy thing it lacks is apparatus for forcing
Tu55p9rneated steam into the holds OF vessels.
"4'u IhlS addition it would seem to be perfect.
TIME FOR SAVANNAH TO ACT.
totne Time has come to inquire why Savannah
S Nas hot been given the same advantages which
~ orleans, Charleston and other southern
p9CS now enjoy.
one is certainlya port of sufficient impor-
vance at this moment and her prospects of be.
sni- large center of population are bright
sL sIuH Jay oy day; therefore, it would seem that
oue ought to have every advantage that science
Gu aHor1' aud be furnished the best system of