Year: 1871

Ausual Report Of Health Omoor CaraeChas.


We are as ready to applaud the conduct Of
public officials when it is worthy Of praise %
we are fearless In denouncing their back
slidings. Therefore we have no difficulty In
turning from the consideration of DR.. Carno.
chan's action in the matter of the manure
dumping nuisance, which sense of duty COM
PEELED us to criticise somewhat sharply, to the
annual report of that distinguished member Of
the medical profession as Health Officer of the
port of New York. It is a document replete
with interest, and instructive to degree that
must command much attention. Dr. Carnochan
handles the subject of quarantine In mastery
style, for he has evidently studied it, and
gives in q nutshell Its proper relations with tho
interests of commerce and the preservation OF
the public health. This consideration Of
the most vital in the whole question-is treated
with force and perspicuity. The Health Officer
argues for systematic working Of quarantine
based on well known scientific laws.
Here the right chord has been struck,
and when 1t is considered that until
year since this important depart
ment had been SO very much mixed and want
ing in system that both the commercial COM
munity and the general public were dissatis-
fed with its operations, the improvements
introduced last summer and those now pro-
posed would seem to meet with public CON-
mendation.


In pursuance of this specific purpose DR..
Carnochan refers to the laws which govern
quarantinable diseases-for instance, their
origin, period of incubation, progress and
termination. In the next place, he submits
the consideration, which should have con-
elusive influence on the Legislature, that the
necessary facilities should be provided to
carry out the system of quarantine with the
facts above, so that the interests of commerce
may be harmonized with the public safety, i'm
posing upon the former as few restraints az
possible, still keeping the main object in view.
1t may be difficult to harmonize such antagon-
isms, but with the facilities for that character
of administration of quarantine which DR.. Car
nochan desires it may be effected, and, while
the commerce of the port of New York will
not be burdened, the health of its citizens may
be assured.


Warehouses in the upper and lower bays.
where vessels from infected ports can dis
charge and store their merchandise, are asked
for. They are required to make up the general
complement which is necessary for perfect
quarantine system. This matter should at
once have attention, and the proper buildings
be constructed before next summer. Without
them there is difficulty in enforcing the wise
and salutary regulations Of quarantine. With
them New York and vicinity could be far
better protected against the Importation of
contagious and infectious diseases, and, there
fore, mutually benefited with the merchant,
as the period of detention Of infected cargoes
would be greatly lessened 1t now remains
for the Legislature to act promptly and ener-
getically in providing these warehouses, as q
little reflection will convince its intelligent
members that the matter is one of vital i'm
portance.


1t is gratifying to note at this time that
ties during the unusual season of 1870, in
which 365 vessels arrived in this harbor from
ports infected with yellow fever, and on which,
in ports of departure, on the passage or in
quarantine, there were 470 cases of sickness
and 107 deaths of this fearful disease, ''not q
single case which occurred in New York or
Brooklyn can be traced to vessels that COM
piled with Quarantine regulations"


There are many points in the report worthy
Of nsideration-especially the facility with
which false bills of health can be procured
but these facts in themselves speak well for
the good management Of the Quarantine De-
partment under its new chief