Year: 1879




The Methods by which the Metropolis Sc


cures Freedom from Contagious Diseases.


A New York journal tells its readers
Of the means used TO prevent infection
of the inhabitants from the terrible
scourges which ships bring into that
harbor, as follows: The scourge
against which the quarantine ofli,ers Of
this port have TO guard against with the
greatest care is yellow fever, which is a
yearly visitant TO some portion or other
Of the Atlantic seaboard. This is be-
cause Of the constant and quick commu-
nication maintained between the large
seaport cities of the United States and
West Indies and Mexican ports, where
the disease is endemic. Even in the
port Of New York il is SO common that
from the first or middle OF June until the
middle OF October, yellow fever is rare
ly absent from the hospital on Dix island.
1t is brought chiefly in sailing vessels,
in the holds Of which the conditions Of
heat, filth and fermentation, are pecu-
liarly favorable to the development of
its germ. A steamer running at stated
intervals obtains its cargo quickly and
makes with it quick passage; but the
sailing vessel lies for weeks under the
tropical sun, while being slowly loaded,
generally with crude sugar or melado.
This is cargo most susceptible to the
fermentation caused by the intense heat,
filthy deposit is formed in the bilge OF
the vessel, and it is here that the yellow
fever germ is propagated with fearful
rapidity. On such a vessel, although
she may sail with clean bill Of health,
il the crew are not thoroughly acclimated
the dread disease ia almost certain to
make its appearance during the passage.
II, while lying in an infected port, care
is taken to pump fresh water in the bilge
daily, and to require sailors, upon the
completion OF days work, to battle and
put on clean hannels, there is little
probability of the disease making its ap-
pearancG. On the arrival of a vessel
from an infected port at quarantine an
examination is male of each passenger,
and his baggage is opened, placed in a
closed room and thoroughly fur1igated.
II at the expiration of five days after
leaving an infected port no case of sick
ness has occurred, 2oratique is given the
passengers and their baggage, and they
are sent on q steamboat to the city. So
thorough is the quarantine OF this port
that although since 1870 thousands of
passengers from infected ports have ar
rived, no case of fever has appeared
among those to whom 2oratique has once
been granted. AS soon as the passen-
gers have gone away, the vessel is al
lowed to proceed to the Iighterage ground
and discharge cargo, having been pre-
vioahiy fumigeted twice in every attain
able part. The crew Of the vessel is
usually discharged before the cargo is
broken, and stevedores, coopers, and all
who work in the hold reside in hulks
anchored near by, and are not allowed
to return to the city until period of
five days has elapsed since they worked
on suspected vessel. The lightermen
are not allowed to go on board hevessel
that they are discharging, and during
the discharge of the cargo fumigations
with chlorine are made daily. The ves-
sci, once emptied Of her cargo, the pro-
cess of purifcation begins. A fire hose
is attached to the force.pump, carried
to the hold, and full head of water is
directed to every part, while, at the
same time, men are set to work with
scrub-brooms, and every portion of the
hold is made as clean and sweet as a
farmhouse kitchen. A discharge. pump
is kept working while the scrubbing is
going on, and the process is continued
until the discharge water is as clean as
that which is pumped into the hold.
Cleanliness is the first law Of quarantine,
and after it come aeration, fumigation,
and disinfection. The disinfectant in
use at quarantine is as simple as the
fumigant, and consists of a solution of
sulphate of iron-a pound to the gallon
of water-combine with carbolic acid Of
twenty per cent strength, thoroughly
applied with a common watering pot.