Original scientific paper
PREVENTIVE HEALTH CONTROL OF U. S. EMIGRANTS AT THE BEGINNING OF 20TH CENTURY ON THE EXAMPLE OF HOTEL „EMIGRANTS“ IN RIJEKA
Jasna Rotim Malvić
Abstract
Rijeka inscribed herself on the list of great European emigration ports like Hamburg, Bremen, Liverpool in the end of the year 1903. when a ship of the British Cunard Line established a travel line from Rijeka to New York. Up to the year 1914, 317639 passengers – emigrants travelled to America from the port of Rijeka. The large flow of people caused problems for the city, for that reason, already in 1906 did the Hungarian ministry of home affairs started the construction of a grandiose building intended for the emigrants. When it was opened in 1908 it was named Hotel Emigrants and had a capacity of 2500 guests. The name Hotel was given to him because of the highest construction and sanitary standards applied during his construction, but also because of comfort provided for the emigrants, large bright dormitories, living rooms, one big and spacious terrace and a number of smaller ones indicated more to a touristic hotel than to a house for emigrants.
Health surveillance of emigrants was performed by Dr. David Friedman, Dr. Arturo Jellouscheg and Dr. Emil Tauffer. They were in charge in front of the Maritime Gubernia in Rijeka, the U.S. consulate in Rijeka and the Adria Maritime Society. Although the city authorities and the Hungarian authorities boasted of the hotel and the rigid medical control over immigrants which was done there, American authorities have still often returned some emigrants, at the expense of the company, after inspection at Ellis Island revealing that before landing some individuals are sick.
Keywords
emigrants in USA; beginning of 20th century; preventive health control; Rijeka; port; Hotel Emigrants
Hrčak ID:
151966
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2015.
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