New-York tribune., 1921-02-11
Alien Embargo
Asked as "a
Bring Typlnus
DIR. Copeland Appeals to
Wilson to Close New York
to Ships From Region
of Epidemic i'm Levant
20 Gases Aboard Liner
Others ON San Gil1sto I'm
der Observation; More
Suspected Vessels ON Way

The typhus epidemic in the Levant
and its relationship to this country
took on serious aspect yesterday
when the Italian liner San Giusto came
to port from Trieste with twenty we'll
developed cases of the deadly disease,
Three of her travellers died during the
voyage and their bodies were consigned
to the sea. The ships surgeon at
tributed death to heart trouble, but it
is the opinion of DR.. Leland Cofer
the health officer, that the three dead
travellers were victims of typhus.
Thus far within two weeks the port
of Trieste, draining basin for the
typhus belt, has sent to New York
thirty-four cases.
Only two of these cases got ashore
and these were isolated promptly at
the Long Island College Hospital when
the diagnosis was confirmed.
The others were quarantined at
Swinburne Island, in the Lower Bay
and all immigrants exposed to the con-
tagion were detained under careful OBJ
servation at Hoffman Island.
Appeal to President Wilson
Although the health officials are OF
the opinion that there Is nothing ir
the local typhus situation to cause un.
due alarm, summary means Of check
ing the disease at its source was urged
yesterday by DR.. Royal s. Copeland
Health Commissioner.
DR.. Copeland sought the aid of the
President in q telegram to JOSEPH
Tumulty, secretary to Mr.. Wilson, ask.
ing that the latter resort to the use OF
health law passed in 1898 which en-
powered him to place an embargo or
passenger traffic between the United
States and any foreign port that was
likely through its travellers to spread
infection and contagion in this coun.
try.
Advices from Washington last night
said that steps had already been taker
by the United States Public Health
Service to cope with the typhus in
used only as an extreme resort.
1t is said that President Wilson Il
willing to use the power vested in him
but will take no action until he has had
advice from the Public Health Service
and the Department Of Justice. 1t was
explained at the White House that
such an embargo might be unneces
sarily drastic and would have the eff
feet of shutting off completely all com
merce with Italy.
Cumming Not Alarmed
Dr. Hugh S. Cumming, of the United
States Public Health Service, said yes,
terday in Washington that while the
situation was grave there was no pres
ent danger of an epidemic of typhus
in the United States.
The twenty cases brought here on the
San Giusto is the greatest number that
have ever arrived. Three were found
aboard the italian liner Presidente
Wilson nearly two weeks ago and these
have been augmented by eleven of hel
steersge travelerst who developed the
disease after their detention at Hoff
man Island.
All Of the stricken twenty on the Sar
Giusto boarded the vessel at Trieste
an Adriatic port. Most of the patient;
were women and one was child
AS Hoffman Island is hopelessly cor.
gested with immigrants from the Presi
dente Wilson and other steamships the
23S second cabin and the 1,137 steeragt
passengers on the San Giusto were
quarantined aboard the vessel itself
Continued page nine)