The Portland daily press., 1900-05-21
FROM CONSULS.

FROM CONSULS.
Reports on the Case OF the New
England.
In the May issue OF the Public Health
Reports, q publication of she United
States Marine Hospital seryice. issued
by authority OF Congress, appear several
reports from consuls and others In the
governments service abroad In References &c
the outbreak of small pox among thu
passengers on the steamer New England.
The case IL so recent and the facts have
besn so widely psiuted In the papers that
It is not necessary to 60 over again at
length the history OF the outbreak Of the
disease among the members'of the exour-
sion party which went to the Holy Land
and Egypt on the steamer. The reports
contained In the publication Of the health
depar tment show, however. some addi-
tional facts to those already published
and censure the excursion manager and
steamship officers. Among other things,
1t appears that the United States author
Il les at Rome notified the health officers
at Naples that they had reason TO believe
the New England was infected. Concern
ing the matter, Mr.. Hector De Castro.
United States oonsul-sensral ut Rome.
after detailing the outbreak Ct the dis
sass in that city among the passengers
from the New England, says. under date
of March 81:
$50 soon as heard Of tbs charges
brought against the steamship officials.
Questioned Mr., n. q. Clark, when he
called upon me ct his offics, but he
strongly denied thsm. Notwithstanding
/ Immediately sent the following telegram
to the United States consul at Naples'
"Rsquest port authorities asosrtain II
steamer New England had any small
pox GASES on board before reaching Ma
pies. some cases broke out here among
Americans OF ships party. They claim
sick ness was on board but concealed.
Inquest necessary to establish the truth
and fix responsibility.
ode Castro, Consul General.
"To which resolved the following
reply, New England not visitsd by To-
cal authorities. Out OF our Jurisdiction.
Sailed Liverpool
"The sudden sailing Of the ship and
her unloading the baggage of the passen-
gers. and the passengers themselves not
being allowed to sail on the ship to
villefranohe and liverpool, as previously
intended. strongly sustain the charges
brought against the officers Of the New
England. Moreover, Mr.. Clark admitted
to me that after the passengers left the
ship at Naples, three members OF the
crew had shown the symptoms OF small
pox. This would 60 to prove also that
the steamer was Infected
After rsoounting how he notified the
Liverpool authorities OF the case. MIR. De
Castro continues:
al am hopeful that some action might
be taken to thoroughly investigate this
matter and, II possible, to bring to justice
the people guilty OF the perpstration OF
the criminal action Of conoealing the ex
istenos of the infectious disease on board.
They have brought sorrow and desola
tion to lumber of families and endan-
gered the health and life Of whole COM
munittss. Had the officers OF the New
England upon their arrival at Naples
made the proper sanitary declaration,
the passengers would have been vacclnat-
ed and otherwise treated and the evil
would have been checked"
In subsequent communication to the
department., Consul General De Castro
says;
"From all the information have been
able to gather am ocnvinced once more
that the New England was badly infected
prior to her arrival at Naples, all the orr
oumstances pointing to the fact that the
disease was brought on board at AlexAn-
dris, Egypt. The Italian authorities are
thoroughly Investigating the matter and
will, no doubt, In time communicates the
results of their Investigation to the
United States government.
al deem, 1t my duty TO express the high
est praise and appreciation for the manner
In which she health authorities st Rome
have acted In thsss trying circumstances.
BY the prompt and energetic measures
taken by them, they prevented the spread
Of the dissass in that city and am hap.
py to say that no other case Of ths dread
ed disease has broken out among the pop.
ulation or among ths remaining passsn :
gers OF the New England.
"Our sick ct ths hospital for contngi.
Gus diseases were and are treated In the
most kiRd manner and recsiys all the
attention that the best skill can pr ocure.
Special English speaking nurses have
been engaged and every measure 10
taken for the comfort OF the invalids.
myself call every day at the hospital 10
look after the welfare OF the patisnts.