The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-15

An Ep,demtc here Einposstble, Dr. Doty says,
Under Present Conditions,

Under Fre1eut Conutttons-
Yellow fever knocks at tho doors Of New York
overy summer, but doesn't get in. 1t gives tho
featherhoad journals something to hutter over
yearly, and lately these journals have been crit
icisins the authorities at Quarantine for alleged
iaxlty In the methods OF dealing with ships hav-
ing cases of yellow fever on board. Yesterday n
Sun reporter interviewed DR.. A. II. Doty, Health
Officer OF the port, on the subject:
"You can state positively" said DR.. Doty.
that there is no danger OF such an epidemic In
Now York. Yellow fever is not, as most persons
suppose, contagious In the Same sense as small
pox or cholera. II Is moro like typhoid fever,
nnd is so regarded by the medical profession.
In the hospitals at Havana yellow fever patients
are not isolated, but are kept in the public wards
with other patients. Their clothes and bedding
arc carefully disinfected. however. Just as in
typhoid. Infection may DO spread through tho
clothing. and 1t is for that reason that tho pre-
cautions arc taken In this port. Evon such pre-
cautions as I have taken arc extreme; still 1
think IL best to be extreme In matters OF public
safety. Take tho case OF the ships from Cuba.
Tho only class on those ships for whom We have
to look out is tho white pass cngers who may
have contracted tho disease ashore. The crew
and the natives are practically immune. My
agent in Havana gives to all those on each ship
| who have had yellow fever or who are immune
| from contagion, white certificates, upon presen:
tation OF which at this port they are permitted
! to land. Others are taken off and detained for q
| day and a half. thus completing tho period of
| Incubation. which is five days, the voyage from
| Cuba being three days. In that way there is no
'In tho case Of ships from Colon, where there
Is yellow fever, the method Is differ, mt. Tho
voyage from Colon is six or seven dnys, which Is
more than the period OF incubation. Recently
nearly every ship from there hns had cases
aboSrd, but these were all cases which broke out
within two or three days after sailing, showing
that there was no infection on board ship; nor
has there been any spreading of tho foyer. In
every case the disease hes been contracted on
shore. In the case Of ships which have brought
in fever patients. particular attention has been
paid to disiufecting clothing and personal be-
1ongings. have been criticised for allowing cabin
passengers to enter the city without OBTAINING
them. This is because we have not had O single
case of yellow foyer among the cabin passengers.
All have been steernge cases. Where the steer
age passengers have been detained 1t ia mainly
for the purpose OF getting at their clothing for
disinfectlon. II 1t were smallpox or cholera or
some other very contagious disease, tho ouaran-
tine methods would be more rigid.
There are two points, wish to emphasize:
First, that there is no danger Of q yellow fever
epidemic in this climate and under. present con-
ditions; second, that there has not been a single
case this year Of the fever spreading on ship.
board. Those who have been i'll have contracted
the disease before sailing, and 1t has invariably
broken out within five days from the day Of do
parture."