The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-14
TOOK A LOOK AT QUARANTINE.
THE SANITARY BOARD FOUND OUT
SEVERAL THINGS.

phur in Pots No Longer COnsid-
cred of Value, But the Rule Is Fol-
IOVved-The Condition of the Bal
last Runs and other Parts of the
station Investigated-New Rules
to he Formulated.
The new sanitary board made its first
trip to the quarantine station yesterday.
The trip was made for purposes Of in
spection and information, the members Of
the board desiring to post themselves on
the practical working of quarantine
Although the trip had been agreed upon
several days before there were three alb
sentees, Mayor Meldrim. Alderman Wylly
and Health officer Drummer, who were &c
tanned by other engagements. The mem
bers of the board who made the trip were
DIR. William Duncan, DR.. W. w. owens,
Mr.. p. J. O'Counor and Mr. w. B. 6tlll-
well. Alderman W. F. Reid, chairman of
the harbor and wharves committee of
council, and City Engineer VIM took id
vantage of the trip, having intended going
down to-day, to go down for the purpose
of inspecting the work now being done
at the sta ton Mr.. X Z. Andersen, Capt.
Bryde of Pensacola, and a Morning News
reporter accompanied the party by inyi-
tation
The party left the city on the tug Theck-
la at O'Clock, and made the run to quar-
antine in an hour and twenty minutes,
wind and tide being against the boat. The
party was received at quarantine by DR..
W. J. Linley quarantine officer who took
the visitors at once on a trip of inspection.
The steam disinfecting plant was first
visited and its use and working explained.
The plant is a long cylinder, about eight
feet in hight, lined with coils of iron pipe.
A large rack. suspended on frame, runs
in and out Of the cylinder. The chamber
is used for dsinfecting clothing, bedding
and other effects of the sailors liable to
convey disease. The clothing, bedding
etc, is suspended on the rack which is
then run into the cylinder and the air
tight door closed. Steam Is then turned
on. 1t requires an hour or more to get up
the required degree of dry heat, 210 de-
grees, after which moist steam is let in
and the temperature run up to ZIG to 22O
degrees. About ten minutes of this com
pletes the disinfection
DR.. Linley stated that fur and skin gar
ments could not stand this process and
would invariably be ruined as a result
Being ignorant of this the sailors often
hang such garments on the rack, and in
spite Of a careful watch kept by the quar-
antine officer, "a pair of gloves or some
thing of this kind will occasionally slip
in, the result being a badly damaged ar
ticle.
The sulphur disinfecting plant which
was intended for disinfecting vessels by
means of large rubber hose pipes to con-
vey the sulphur gas to the holes Of the
plant, which has been at the station three
or four years, has never been used
1t is said that il was never fired up but
once, on the occasion when DR.. Drummer
was so badly burned about the head and
face by an outburst of sulphur and gas
by the opening of an air vent at the
wrong moment. The members of the sani-
tary board could not understand why no
further effort had been made to put this
plant into service, as IL is said to be an
expensive piece of machinery.
DR.. Linley explained that the method
of disinfecting a vessel is by burning sui
phur in pots in the holds with the matches
battened down, and also by washing the
sides OF the vessels down with a bichlo-
ride solution when the woodwork does not
appear TO be clean and in good condition
He said candidly that he did not believe
the burning Of sulphur in the holds Of yes
sels is OF any practical value. The best
N@NAicAAIANai ne Sctllg no longer consider this
process an effective means of disinfection.
lie continued 70 use the process, he said.
simply because ii Is required by the rules.
ana he has had no Instructions to the CON
trary.
The sleeping quarters for officers and
crews OF vessels for use while the vessels
are undergoing disinfecuon, were visited.
There being no vessels at the station. the
quarters are now being occupied by the
FORCES engaged in removing old ballast and
repairing the 'runways." The sleenjng
quarters include three rooms, one of which
Is reserved for the officers. The two rooms
used by the sailors contain fifteen hunks
Dr. Linley said that additional quarters
are needed as occasionally vessels with
Inuch larger crews than can be accommo-
dated IN the present quarters are disinfect-
ed at the station.
Inc party visited the quarantine off,
GER house where it sought information
as TO the rules and regulations in force
Inc members of the board had expecued
10 ma supply of printed COPIES Of the
Iules ana regulations in force a the sta
ton In this they were disappointed. DR.
Llniey had only two copies and these were
printed in 1855 He let DR.. Duncan have
one copy, Keeping the other for himself.
Ut. LinIey stated however that he was
not guided by these regulations. bur bv
the United States quarantine regulations.
tosetner with such additional instructions
as were given him by the health officer.
lie had copy of these regulations with
notes on the margin Of additional instruc-
lions. The quarantine enforced at Savan-
nan, he said is more strict than required
by the United States regulations.
All the members Of the board agreed
that new system of rules and regula-
lions should be prepared at once. and
printed in such shape that II could be
furnished to shippers and all others in
terested for their information, and also
20 captains Of vessels arriving at the sta
ton for their guidance and information.
The work of putting the "runways" in
good condition is progressing at a salts
factory rate. Alderman Reid and Col
VIM did not accompany the rest OF the
party, after arriving at the station, but
gave their entire time to inspecting the
work. They reported that they were well
satisfied with the progress that has been
made. The gang engaged in removing bal
last from around the runaways
viii probably be relieved Saturday.
The carpenters gang may also complete
its work by Saturday About half the
piles which are to be driven along the
water front are IN place
Inc ships crew will soon have two easy