ANNUAL REPORT 
OF 
QUARANTINE OPERATIONS, 
IN 
CHARLESTON HARBOR, S. C., 
FOR 
THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31st, 1 8 7 0. 
ROBERT LEBBY, M. D., 
HEALTH OFFICER. 
COLUMBIA, S. C.: 
JOHN W. DENNY, PRINTER TO THE STATE. 
1871. ANNUAL REPORT 
OF 
QUARANTINE OPERATIONS, 
IN 
CHARLESTON HARBOR, S. C., 
FOR 
THE YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31st, 1 87 0 . 
ROBERT LEBBY, M. D., 
HEALTH OFFICER. REPORT 
QUARANTINE OFFICE, 
Charleston, S. C., November 1, A. D. 1870. 
To His Excellency Robert K. Scott, 
Governor of the State of-South Carolina. 
Governor : I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency my 
Second Annual Report of Quarantine Operations in the harbor of Charles- 
ton, under my supervision, for the current year ending 31st of October, 
1870. 
The experience of the past two years has proven the utility, and estab- 
lished the success of the present Quarantine Regulations of the State of 
South Carolina, as adopted by the General Assembly in 1868. Under 
the protecting care of an all-wise Providence who controls the destinies 
of Nations and States, as well as of individuals, the community of 
Charleston has been preserved from the desolating scourge of yellow fever 
and cholera epidemics. To that Supreme Governor of the Universe, who 
has so beneficently watched over the health, lives and business of the peo- 
p'e of Charleston, are we indebted for this exemption from these terrible 
visitations. While several of our sister cities have suffered from epi- 
demics of yellow fever, Charleston has been passed over by the “ de- 
stroying angel,” and our beloved city and State has been spared. Let us 
render up our thanksgiving to God alone for His great mercy and pro- 
tection. 
YELLOW FEVER. 
The French armed dispatch sloop-of-war “ Limier ” arrived at this 
Quarantine, on the 26th of January, 1870, seven days from Port-au- 
Prince, with twenty-five of her crew sick with yellow fever, eight (8) se- 
vere cases, the balance in different stages of the diseae, and several others 
of the crew convalescing. On the 27th, three (3) of the sick died on 
board, and were buried at Fort Johnson Cemetery. On the 28th, twen- 
ty-two (22) of the sick were removed to the Lazaretto on Morris Island, 
and on the 29th, three (3) others were taken from the ship. On this day 
four (4) (of the twenty-two) died. On the 31st two (2) more, and on 
the 5th of February, two (2) others of this unfortunate ship’s crew died, 
and were buried on Morris Island; making a total of eight (8) deaths among those sent to the Lazaretto, which, with the three (3) that occur- 
red on the ship, made a total of eleven (11) deaths since the arrival of 
the vessel on the 26th of January. Seventeen of the number sent to the 
Lazaretto were returned t'o the ship on the 25th of February, entirely re- 
covered. The ship was thoroughly cleansed, fumigated, and disinfected 
by the most powerful agents, and no other cases occurred on board up to 
the 5th of April, 1870, on which day she sailed for France, nor was there 
a new case on the vessel after her anchoring in the harbor. This may be 
attributed to the very cold weather which set in directly after her arrival. 
This ship lost four (4) officers, and forty-eight (48) seamen in the harbor 
of Port-au-Prince, and-eleven (11) seamen in the harbor of Charleston, 
making a total of four (4) officers, and fifty-nine (59) seamen, in all sixty- 
three (63) deaths, from the period of the yellow fever’s first appearance 
on board. This was the only vessel during the season in this harbor with 
yellow fever, or any other infectious or pestilential disease on board. 
The brig H. C. Brooks arrived at the anchorage on the 5th of August, 
(1870), seven days from Havana, with the Captain convalescing from 
fever. The brig sailed from the port of Havana on the morning of 
July 28th, and the Captain sickened a few hours after he got to sea. 
Upon his arrival here, he was quite weak from the attack, but fresh beef 
and champagne in a few days restored him to ride out a quarantine of 
thirty-two (32) days, making thirty-nine (39) days from his leaving Ha- 
vana. No other cases occurred on board the Brooks. Her cargo was 
sugar and molasses. 
PERSONAL CONTAGION OR INFECTION. 
\ N . * 
During the past two seasons of 1869 and 1870, very minute observa- 
tions were made from the Log Books of vessels coining from infected 
ports, and inquiries were made of intelligent Captains relative to how 
many of their crews who were engaged in actual attendance upon those 
who had the yellow fever, were taken sick with the same disease, and, al- 
most in every instance, the reply was, that “ as long as they remained on 
board of the vessel, and did not expose themselves to the night air, they 
were exempt.” The same information was given in 1869, and I had the 
opportunity of personally observing the fact in this harbor on board the 
schooners Emma Wadsworth and Tropic Bird, where the wife of the 
Captain of the former and the Captain of the latter, (who died in fortv- 
eight hours after his arrival,) were attended by unacclimated persons of 
Northern constitutions, who were exposed in every way to contact with 
the persons of the sick. No one, in any single instance, took the disease- 
So, likewise, Avith the brig Merriwa, Avhere the Captain and First Mate 5 
were both ill with yellow fever, and put in to this port in distress. No 
one took the disease from them. 
This notice of personal contagion or communicating the disease from 
person to person, is made with the view of drawing the attention of Health 
Officers to similar observations, in order to establish the fact of non-per- 
sonal communication. This fully corroborates the observations of many 
of our most prominent Physicians for a period of nearly fifty (50) years 
back, or even longer. 
FOMITES. 
The clothing and bedding, particularly flannels and blankets, that have 
been worn ami used by yellow fever patients in the hopitals at Havana, 
and on ship-board, require the vigilant attention of the Health Officer 
more than anything else. Captains and sailors constantly have an accu- 
mulation of such deleterious old rags on board, and it is not uncommon 
for the Health Officer to b$ told that they kept them to be washed for fu- 
ture use. I have made it a rule to have these old rags thrown overboard 
at strong ebb-tide, and, in many instances, the contents of their mattresses, 
before the vessel -was liberated from Quarantine or allowed to come up to 
the city. 
A very clear case of this sort of propagation of the disease occurred at 
Fort Johnson during the latter part of the season, in the person of a 
white woman, a German, who washed the flannels of Capt. Shea, of the 
brig Brooks, who clandestinely got his clothes on shore, after having been 
several times positively directed not to carry them on shore, either there 
or at Charleston, but to immerse them in a solution of one part of car- 
bolic acid, in crystals, to seventy of water, and have them washed after- 
wards in clear water, on board, or take them north after drying. He neg- 
lected this advice and got them on shore. The woman was taken sick 
on the seventh day after with all the symptoms of yellow fever, and was 
very ill. On the fifth day her fever left her in a most debilitated condi- 
tion, almost amounting to collapse, and jaundiced. She continued in 
this way for two or three weeks. I would ask, how did this woman con- 
tract the disease ? She was never on board of the vessel, for it wras at too 
great a distance from the wharf, and her husband was too fearful of the 
yellow fever to have gone on board himself, or to have allowed her to do 
so. Upon her recovery, not many weeks after, she was attacked with 
malarial fever, and is now an invalid. 
BILGE WATER, 
Another grave engenderer of disease to a community. The vessels 
from the West Indies, and particularly those from Havana and Matan- 6 
zas, are all infected (if I may use the term) with this,black, putrid bilge 
water, the result of transporting cargoes of sugar and molasses, and the 
great carelessness or neglect to have the “ holds ” and “run ” properly 
cleaned, and the vessel pumped frequently and washed out well. I am 
sorry to say that our American vessels are more infected with this mate- 
rial, and more neglected than any other nation’s, except the Spanish ves- 
sels. Every vessel that arrived at this station during the past season 
from Havana and Matanzas were in this dangerous condition, and those 
in “light ballast ” and “no ballast ” were in a more dangerous condition 
than those with cargoes ; for, while the former were perfectly tight, the 
latter leaked, to a greater or less degree. 
From all the information before me relative to the bark “ Home,” 
which arrived at the Quarantine Station, below Philadelphia, on the 29th 
of June last, from Black River, Kingston, Jamaica, it seems that it was 
the filthy condition of the vessel from putrid bilge water that propagated 
the disease. This was aided by the burning of the rags and the refuse 
clothing on shore. Such material from an infected ship, when burning, 
would infect those immediately under its influence. Dr. Ramsay, the 
historian of South Carolina, states that “ the small pox was wafted over 
Charlestown, in 1760, by the burning of the contents of a house wdiere 
several persons resided who had the small pox and had recovered or 
died. The house was cleaned, and a great smoke was made, which being 
carried by an easterly wind from White Point, propagated the disease 
extensively to the westward in the line of the smoke.” If the small pox 
could be propagated and extended in this manner, why not yellow fever ? 
Yellow Fever, the past season, has been particularly fatal at the New 
Quarantine, (as reported by the papers,) and prevailed epidem- 
ically at New Orleans and Mobile, and somevdiat in Galveston. Of its 
origin in those cities I am not specially advised, but there is every reason 
to believe that it was carried into New Orleans and Mobile. From Ha- 
vana it has crossed the Atlantic by steam, and almost depopulated Barce- 
lona, and extended up and along the Mediterranean Sea in all directions. 
The terrible “ vomito ” brought into Barcelona from Cuba by the steamer 
“ Marie,” on or before the 23d of September, is driving thousands before 
it. This introduction of “ vomito ” comes well authenticated. Better 
far better, for the whole West India Trade to be entirely suspended be- 
tween the 1st days of May and November, than that Charleston should 
be afflicted as Barcelona has been by this fearful pestilence—“ vomitov” 7 
ARRIVALS, 1870. 
The following shows tie number and kind of vessels which arrived 
and were examined at the Quarantine Station up to the 31st of October, 
1870: 
Kind of Vessel. 
Months. 
Steamers. 
oo 
.Sr 
CO 
Barks. 
Brigs. 
Schooners. 
Sloops. 
Aggregate. 
1870. 
January 
* 1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
May 
30 
1 
. 2 
9 
36 
0 
78 
June 
30 
0 
1 
4 
24 
0 
59 
July 
24 
0 
1 
6 
18 
0 
49 
August. 
29 
0 
5 
6 
34 
1 
75 
September 
32 
0 
4 
7 
17 
0 
60 
October 
8 
0 
4 
2 
15 
0 
29 
Totals 
154 
1 
17 
34 
144 
1 
351 
*The French sloop of war Limier, with yeUow fever on board. 
From the West Indies, as follows: 
Vessels. 
From Baracoa 1 
Bermuda 3 
Cardenas 4 
Elethuvia 1 
Havana 3 
Matanzas 8 
Port-au-Prince 2 
St John’s, P. R 1 
St. Thomas’ 1 
Total number of vessels from West Indian ports 26 
Total number of all classes of vessels from European and 
American coastwise ports . 325 
Total number of vessels examined ....351 All vessels from healthy ports North of the port of Charleston, were 
partially relieved from Quarantine examination,on and after the 5th of 
October, by request of the merchants, on account of the large influx of 
merchandize, and the demand for vessels required for exportation. 
Vessels from the West Indies were rigidly Quarantined to November 
1. As this course was pursued and approved by your Excellency in 1869, 
it was adopted the past season without detriment to the public health, 
believing that it would not be disapproved. 9 
In the following Comparative Meteorological table for the Quarantine 
Seasons of 1858 and 1870, it will be observed that the “range” of the 
Barometer is very similar in both years—except the months of Septem- 
ber and October, in the first of which, in 1858, there was the greatest 
“ range,” and just the reverse in 1870, when the least range appears ; and 
this order is nearly reversed in October, though not to the same degree, 
thus showing a “ later season. ” The maximun point reached by the Ba- 
rometer in 1858 was pretty high, while the minimun indication was the 
lowest during the six months, in 1870 ; almost the same thing appears in 
the month of October. In the other months the Barometrical indications 
are remarkably alike. The extreme degrees of heat and cold are much 
greater in 1870 than 1858, but the “ mean temperature” is much the same 
for both years, the “mean—night” being the highest in 1858, and the 
“ mean—day ” highest in 1870. The following shows a marked difference 
iu the “ extremes of temperature ” of the two years: 
1858. 
1870. 
Difference. 
Maximum of Thermometer, 
94° 
99° 
5° hotter in 1870 
Minimum of Thermometer, 
63° 
47° 
1(>° colder in 1870 
Range, 
31° 
52° 
19° greater range 
(luring the season of 1870 than in 1858. The mean of the ‘‘ Dew Point” 
shows a much greater proportion of moisture in the atmosphere of 1858 
than 1870, while the ‘‘Rain-fall” for both years is practically the same, 
although varying considerably in corresponding months. The “ Prevail- 
ing Winds” and Weather is the same for both years. The following re- 
sume of arrivals during the two seasons, and the result, will serve to illus- 
trate the “ difference ” between the two systems of Quarantine: 
* I his does not include the European and coastwise arrivals. 
00 oo 
or 
O 00 
Yeaks. 
V 
* 
CO 
C71 O 
O 00 
Total number of vessels 
arrived at Quarantine. 
to 
05 «0 
From West Indies and 
South America and 
Africa, &c. 
O Cn 
No. vessels arriving at 
Quarantine with sick- 
ness on board. 
h-* 
tc o 
os CO 
No. of vessels Quaran- 
tined. 
unknown 
35 
Average No. of days of 
Quarantine. 
O 05 
Total Treated. 
No. of Cases of 
Yellow Fever. 
O CO 
Died. 
O CO 
Recovered. Of the Condition of the Atmosphere at Charleston, South Carolina, from the 1st of May to the of 
November, 1858, when there was a severe epidemic of Yellow Fever, and of the corresponding months 
of the year 1810, when there was no Yellow Fever. 
[Compiled from the Meteorological Register of the City of Charleston—Interval Twelve Years.] 
1858. 
May. 
June 
July. 
August. 
Sept’r. 
October. 
Months. 
CO CO CO CO CO CO 
© © © © © © 
Oi bi CO CO CO 4o 
4*- i—* t—> tO CO 
4- to to to to Oi . 
Maximum. 
W 
> 
CO to CO to to to 
op p p p P 
o'ci © CD "-O CO 
O C7> o oo co o 
OOOiMX® 
Minimum. 
w 
o 
g 
w 
H 
W 
on oc cb oo 4» bi 
WOW 
to to oo 4- 0 
Range. 
W 
OC' OO © CO OO OD 
to —4 CO 4- oo 4* 
O 
a> 
M aximum. 
H 
OO OO -"4 —4 —4 OS 
CO to to O Oi 
c+ 
p 
CD 
Cu 
\ 
Minimum. 
W 
M 
K) 
M 
05 Oi<l "4 "4 ® 
-4 p pi 4- p 
CO CO o O "oc 
tO 05 Oi CO CO —4 
W 
rt> 
CfQ. 
Mean—night 
g 
pd 
H 
W 
w 
—-1 —4 OO OC OO -4J 
Oi Oo p -4 O' OO 
O' CD GO M ® b 
QC Oi O tO CD Oi 
r-t- 
Mean—day. 
Oi Oi ~-4 "-4 —4 Oi 
to p pi pi CO Oi 
I-* Ci "-4 bi Q0 CO 
o 03 <1 4i CO 00 
Mean. 
Dew Point at Sunrise. 
(2) GO CO GO 02 
At Sunrise. 
.o 
!zj CO GO GO GO 
At 4 P. M. 
CO CD 
? o 
CO to 
CO 4— O Oi 
Hottest Day. 
to to to i-1 
-4 00 4 Oi CO 
Coldest Day. 
b bo M 4 Oi 
—4 tO O l—i Oi —4 
Inches. 
Quantity of Rain. 
£ 3 C 3 C P 
Prevailing Weather. 
1 
Remarks. 
COMPARATIVE VIEW COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE CONDITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE AT CHARLESTON.—Continued. 
1870. 
May. 
30.370 29.724 
.646 
95 
50 
61.00 
79.64 
58.54 
N. W. 
4.27 
Fair. 
June. 
30.380 29.900 
.480 
94 
61 
69.40 
84.60 
67.16 S. W. 
s. w. 
6.22 
f< 
July. 
30.384! 30.028 
.356 
99 
70 
71.06 
91.03 
65.09 S. W. 
s. w. 
3 00 
(( 
August. 
Sept’r. 
30.340; 30.020 
.320 
93 
67 
73.00 
87.93 
74.00 N. E. 
s. w. 
3.75 
a 
30 300 29.990 
.310 
92 
65 
67.16 
82.66 
63.56 N. E. 
N. E. 
2.14 
u 
October. 
30.500 29.776 
.724 
87 
47 
59.67 
77.74 
58.08 NT. E. 
N E. 1 
5.02 
u 12 
HOSPITALS. 
In my last Annual Report I informed the General Assembly, through 
your Excellency, that the Lazaretto and Physician’s and Steward’s houses 
were completed, together with a wharf and eight hundred (800) feet of 
causeway ten (10) feet wide, leading from the Creek around the Hospital, 
and also a wharf at a cost, by contract, of seven thousand (7,000) dol- 
lars, leaving a balance of the appropriation unexpended of one thousand 
(1,000) dollars, to be applied for bedding, furniture, kitchen, &c. 
On the 26th of January, upon the arrival of the French sloop of war 
Limier, with yellow fever on board, your Excellency (in accordance with 
the Act) approved my requisition for three hundred and fifty (850) dol- 
lars for the purposes above specified, in order to accommodate the sick 
from the French ship. These articles are now on hand, in good order, 
and ready for use. Again, from the exposed situation of these buildings, 
and several in the vicinity having been struck by lightning and partially 
destroyed, with your Excellency’s approval, a contract was made with 
Mr. D. G. Nash to furnish them with Munson’s Patent Copper Con- 
ductors for three hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-six cents 
($813.76). This work has been well done. It was found that a kitchen 
was absolutely necessary for the Lazaretto. Accordingly a building (12 
by 20) twelve by twenty feet was erected, under contract, for three hun- 
dred and thirty dollars ($330), making a total expenditure at this point 
of eight thousand and thirteen dollars and seventy-six cents ($8,013.76). 
The buildings are all in good condition and ready for immediate use, 
upon the shortest notice. The expenses of their erection will be shown 
somewhat in detail in the following : RECAPITULATION. 
Health Officer, Port of Charleston, in account with State of South Carolina. 
Dr. 
1869. 
Aug. 9 
To Treasury draft, per Governor’s order 
81,950 00 
Sept. 8 
To Treasury draft, per Governor’s order 
1,950 00 
Nov. 15 
To Treasury draft, per Governor’s order 
1,950 00 
15 
To Treasury draft, per Governor’s order 
500 00 
1870. 
• 
Jan. 12 
To Treasury draft, per Governor’s order 
650 00 
Feb. 17 
To Treasury draft, per Governor’s order 
350 00 
J uly 20 
To Treasury draft, paid Mr. Nasli 
313 76 
Oct. 10 
To cash paid Health Officer 
350 00 
$8,013 76 14 
RECAPITULATION.—Continued. 
Health Officer, Port of Charleston, in account with State of South Carolina. 
Cr. 
1869. 
Aug. 9 
By cash paid Sawner and Ferguson, first install- 
ment on contract 
$1,950 00 
Sept. 8 
By cash paid Sawner and Ferguson, second install- 
ment on contract 
1,950 00 
Nov. 15 
By cash paid Sawner and Ferguson, third install- 
ment on contract ? 
1,950 00 
15 
By cash paid Sawner and Ferguson, contract for 
wharf. 
500 00 
1870. 
Jan. 12 
By cash paid Sawner and Ferguson, 10 per cent. 
retained on contract 
650 00 
Feb. 17 
By cash paid for building Cots, Hospital Furni- 
ture, &e 
350 00 
July 20 
Sept. 
By cash paid for Lightning Conductors, to Mr. Nash. 
313 76 
By cash paid for three barrels Lime, A. McCobb.. 
6 50 
Oct. 10 
By cash paid for kitchen, per contract of Joseph 
Brown 
330 00 
Total cost of Lazaretto and appurtenances 
$8,000 26 
Oct. 10 
By balance of cash in Loan and Trust Co.’s Bank 
13 50 
$8,013 76 
The foregoing shows an expenditure of twenty-six (26) cents more 
than the appropriation. 15 
KEEPER OF THE LAZARETTO. 
In ray last Annual Report will be found the result of a correspond 
ence, by your Excellency’s approval, with the City Council of Charles- 
ton, (marked A. P. D., 1869,) through which that honorable body had 
assumed the care of the Lazaretto in trust for the State, as before the 
war. They directed the City Registrar to appoint a “ Keeper of the 
Lazaretto,” to reside permanently on Morris’ Island, at a salary of four 
hundred (400) dollars (the same as prior to the war) per annum, payable 
monthly. This officer has been paid promptly to the 31st of October 
1870, by the City Treasurer. 
To re-imburse the City Treasury for this outlay in caring for the prop- 
erty of the State, and to provide for the Keeper’s salary for the fiscal 
year ending October 31,1871, an appropriation of eight hundred (800) 
dollars is required at the next session of the General Assembly. ' 
SURVEYING PUBLIC LANDS ON MORRIS ISLAND. 
As soon as it was ascertained that the State was about to erect build- 
ings for a Lazaretto on Morris Island, the owner of the Island notified 
the Health Officer that if these buildings were located upon any portion 
of his domain, reclamation would be made on the State for the same. 
The State of South Carolina owned, by purchase from the late New- 
man Kershaw and James Reid, a large body of land on Morris Island, 
but it was found to be impossible to locate it, as all the landmarks had 
been obliterated by the recent military occupation of the island. Your 
Excellency authorized the County Commissioners of Charleston County 
to have the property re-surveyed, and to have stone marks placed to 
designate the State boundaries. This has been done at a cost of two 
hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-eight cents ($268.68.) 
WARE HOUSES. 
Last year I directed your Excellency’s attention to the subject of ware 
houses, as connected intimately with the proper administration of the 
Quarantine establishment. The Medical Committee of the House 
promptly reported upon the subject, and the Legislature unanimously 
adopted a series of Resolutions, directing your Excellency to forward 
them to our Senators and Representatives in Congress. The President of 
the United States referred the subject to the Secretary of the Treasury 
for his immediate action. A Special Agent was appointed in the person 
of Mr. J. G Lobsdell, an experienced merchant, formerly of New York, 
and well acquainted with the ware house system of that port, who, after 
several interviews with Hon Geo. W. Clark, Collector of the Port, and 16 
myself, proposed to allow the matter to remain in abeyance for the present, 
until it could be ascertained if the West India trade with this port in- 
creased to such an extent as to warrant the large outlay that the erection 
of the buildings would involve during the season of 1870. Mr Lobs- 
dell’s instructions were such that if their construction was insisted upoiq 
and they were found to be necessary for the preservation of the public 
health of Charleston, they should be erected. 
Upon a free interchange of opinions, and after learning that our in- 
sisting upon their erection would endanger the large appropriations then 
before Congress for the Custom House and other works in this harbor, 
Mr. Clark and myself concurred in the opinion that it were best to let 
this matter lie over, the more so, as we were assured by Mr. Lobsdell 
that the President’s instructions to the Secretary of the Treasury were 
such as would admit of the re-opening of the subject, at any time during 
the present administration. I beg to refer to my letter on thfe subject un- 
der date of February 14, 1870. 
QUARANTINE EXPENSES. 
The economical administration of this important branch of public ser- 
vice intrusted to my care by your Excellency in November, 1868, with 
these instructions only, to “keep the yellow fever out of the city of 
Charleston at any cost,” has been constantly aimed at, for, while, during 
the past two years, in order to preserve the«citizens of Charleston from 
the pestilence, I felt that I was untrammeled, free to do my best to that 
end, “ at any cost ” to the State, at the same time I felt that the most 
rigid economy of the public funds should be exercised in this as well as 
in every other branch of expenditures of the State. 
Upon assuming the duties of my office, it was my first action to ascer- 
tain what it had just previously cost the State, for the execution of the 
Quarantine Laws : 
I learned that in 1865 and 1866 it cost about $ 7,200 
In 1867 and 1868, exclusive of salaries, itcost about 3,600 
In 1869, exclusive of salaries, it cost about 2,208 
And for oil, lanterns, &c 44 
$2,252 00 
or, in round numbers, two thousand (2,000) dollars, for the boat, lan- 
terns, &c., the cost of which was included in the total, were used during 
the season just ended. 
With the experience acquired in 18G9, the expenses of the present year 
have been reduced to a still smaller figure, as will appear below. 
As before stated, on the 26th of January, the French dispatch sloop-of. 
war “ Limier,” put into this port, having many of her crew sick with yel- 17 
low fever, and as this was a National vessel, the State of South Carolina, 
hy your Excellency’s instructions, under the opinion of the Attorney- 
General, assumed the expenses incident to their care, the vessel belonging 
to a Nation in amity with the United States, this course being almost uni- 
versally followed in such cases. The extraordinary contingent expenses 
for medical attendance, medicines, etc., and supplies, were on this occa- 
sion $590.02. 18 
QUARANTINE EXPENSES, 1870. 
Health Officer in account with the State of South Carolina. 
1870. 
Dr. 
Feb 28 
To Treasury draft, by order of Governor... 
$590 62 
Cr. 
28 
By expenses of the/sick from the French 
steamer Limier, paid 
$590 62 
590 62 
Dr. 
Ap’113 
'To Treasury draft from Comptrol ler-General 
$1,000 00 
July 15 
To Treasury draft from Comptroller-General 
500 00 
Oct 15 
To Treasury draft from Comptroller-General 
200 00 
• 
$1,700 00 
Cr. 
May 31 
By expenses paid, as per account current, 
and vouchers forwarded 
$755 48 
June30 
By expenses paid, as per account current, 
and vouchers forwarded 
181 05 
.1 uly 31 
By expenses paid, as per account current, 
and vouchers forwarded 
204 80 
Aug 31 
By expenses paid, as per account current, 
and vouchers forwarded 
125 00 
Sept 30 
By expenses paid, as per account current, 
and vouchers forwarded 
193 85 
Oct 31 
By expenses paid, as per account current, 
and vouchers forwarded 
102 00 
1,562 18 
31 
By balance of cash in Loan and Trust 
Company’s Bank, Charleston 
$137 82 
Your Excellency will perceive that the actual cost to the State 
of South Carolina for the execution of the Quarantine 
Regulations, proper, at the Port of Charleston, for the fiscal 
year ending 31st of October, 1870, was $1,562 18 
And for the French steamer 590 62 
Total... *• $2,152 80 
Which is ninety-nine dollars and twenty cents ($99 20) less than the ex- 
penditures for the year previous (1869). The difference in favor of 1870 
would have been still greater, but for that contingency. 19 
For the amount expended the State has on hand a large hospital, with 
two comfortable houses for the Physician and Steward, with a kitchen 
attached and fixtures complete, costing eight thousand dollars and twenty- 
six cents, ($8,000.26;) and, for quarantine purposes, two (2) boats, with 
oars, &c , iron davits, with blocks and tackle, together with signal, signal 
staff, etc., at a cost of about five hundred (500 00) dollars for next year’s 
operations. These will require, comparatively, little expense for paint- 
ing, &c. 
Previous to the war the Quarantine Officer was required to board and 
examine only vessels coming from the West Indies, or from other ports, 
with siekness on board. Under this law every vessel has to be boarded 
and examined day or night. It is true that the Act does not require the 
performance of this duty except between sunrise and sunset, but the pas- 
senger steamers arrive at all hours of the night, frequently with heavy 
freight and passenger lists, and ’tis important that they should get f < the 
city in time to connect with the early morning trains for the interior. 
The commercial and traveling public must be accommodated, conse- 
quently the duty of the Health Officer, under the present law, is not only 
responsible, but laborious and dangerous. There is much difference be- 
tween the former and present system.' The average number of vessels 
boarded previous to the war scarcely exceeded one hundred (100) during 
the season, at an appropriation of about one thousand (1000) dollars for 
the season. During the year 1869 three hundred and thirty-one (831) 
vessels were boarded and examined, anil in the year 1870, the number 
reached three hundred and fifty-one (351) vessels. Prior to the war they 
were boarded *by day; since the war it is done both day and night, and at 
about double the cost only to the State. Since the war there has been no 
epidemic yellow fever originating or introduced into the City of Charles- 
ton. 
CONCLUSION. 
Permit me, in concluding this Report, and my official term, which is 
about to expire, to express my grateful appreciation of the uniform kind- 
ness, confidence and friendship always manifested towards me by your Ex- 
cellency. Our official connection has not been disturbed by a single unplea- 
sant occurrence during the two years that I have been associated with your 
Department. Your constant anxiety and solicitude has been to preserve 
the City of Charleston from epidemic yellow fever at all hazards. In 
the Providence of Almighty God our united efforts have been successful 
so far, and our fellow-citizens have been protected “ from the pestilence 
that walketh in darkness, and the destruction that wasteth at noon-day,” 
and their business has not been set back by what has been too often the 
precursor of commercial disasters in our city. While endeavoring to accomplish this desirable object, which the Quar- 
antine laws design through faithful execution, I very nearly sacrificed 
my life in discharging the duties of the trust reposed in ‘me by your Ex- 
cellency, and for my fellow-citizens of my own native city and State. 
Let me respectfully urge upon you and the General Assembly of the 
State to foster and continue the thorough execution of the Quarantine 
law, which she has enacted for the public good. A strict. Quarantine is 
a blessing to a community; a lax Quarantine is a nuisance to any people. 
Continue your rigid laws. 
I am indebted to Hon. G. W. Clark, Collector of the Port of Charles, 
ton, and to the Captain and officers of the United States Revenue cutter 
Racer, for important and valuable assistance afforded me iu the discharge 
of my duties, and for which I desire to return my grateful thanks. 
Finally, I would recommend a continuance of the watchful care and 
earnest attention, heretofore manifested by your Excellency in this im- 
portant department of the State Government. “ Forewarned is fore- 
armed” should bean axiom for worthy action in every case. If, after 
observing it in this instance, the great Providence, who is alike the dis- 
penser of life and death, should arrest the approach of this terrible de- 
stroyer, and turn it from our shores, we shall, as in the past two seasons, 
have the satisfaction of feeling that we have done our whole duty, and if, 
in Ilis infinite wisdom, He shall see fit to permit it to come upon us, wre 
shall have the consolation, at least, of being prepared to do all we can to 
weaken its attack, subdue its effects and confine its march. 
Very respectfully, 
Your Excellency’s obedient servant, - 
ROBERT LEBBY, M. D., 
Health Officer.