The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-30

from them only such attention as led frequently 10
the enactment of laws, useless in themselves, or
based upon principles which could not be sustained.
One year ago the first step towards the correction
of this evil instituted in the city of Philadel-
phia. 1t was then entirely new thing. Never
before had there been a national aSSemblage to de
liberate upon public health. That Convention pub
lshed the result of its deliberations in series of
plain and distinct propositions; and these constitute
the first fruit of the great movement IN the United
States
1t has been asked, what good has resulted from |
that meeting? 1t has been tauntngly said that not
a single State has moved in the adoption of your |
enunciated principles. The propOunding of such |
question, the expression of such remark, indicates
in the individual, want of correct conception of
the responsibility connected with, and the magni-
tude of, the work to be accomplished No judi |
cous friend has even hoped that the present unfin
ished work could be adopted by any State.
Here we meet now, the second great American
Congress for hygienic reform, and 1t can be only
revealed in the future how great an amount of good
in a national, scientific and social character may be
derived from the information and facts which are
accommodating constantly during your delibera-
tons.
1t is sorry sight to view the medley which is
made by the Quarantine regulations in the different
States of our Union. We cannot, however, be sur
prsed at the want of uniformity in these laws, mas
much as there has never been model by which to
draft those laws. The production of such model
is to be one great benefit resulting from the future
meetings of this body.
The occurrence of a maignant epidemic is at all
times fearful calamity, especially when it sweeps
every rank and grade of society, carrying to the
grave the active of the mart and the quiet den
izen and rendering cities comparative deserts. The
panic which such visitation occasions, not only in
their locality, but in distant places holding in
innate relations thereto, almost always impels the
atfrghted and uniformed inhabitants to the adop-
ton of measures so extreme as to Illustrate their
own intentions or so absurd and unnecessary as to
be hooking stock after the panic has passed away.
1t is in the regulation of this very thing that much
good is to be expected from the sessions of these
| Conventions. They WILL at last present series of
well dgested principles, which can, at all times,
be referred to as data upon which to base legislative
action and thereby furnish the basis for much more
uniformity in the different ports.
Let this then be our AIM to elaborate the true
| principles of Public Hygiene, and to sketch out
systematic and sufficiently stringent code of regula
| tions having abundant amplitude for their adapta-
! ton to our different lattudes and we may, when
| this is accomplished either by this Convention
its successors elicitate ourselves upon having been
| instrumental in helping to the full safety
| of our coast cities and at the time to olsen
cumber commerce of many Of its unnecessary
| barTassments.
have not strength to express the emotions which
would gladly utter, in behalf of my fellows to
| greet you at your coming, can only pass my eye
! over these assembled delegates, and say to all
| Welcome!
On motion of Dr. G. H. Woodward, of Philadel-
phia the following gentlemen were appointed
committee to nominate permanent officers: DR.. G..
II. Woodward, of Philadelphia; F. }. A. Bowee,
Esq, of New York; DR.. W. F. Wallis, of Wash
ington; DR.. Judson Gilman, of Baltimore and Dr.
! Isaac A. Nichols of Newark, n. j.
Charles ii. Haswell, Esq, of New York, submit
ted the following resolution, which adopted:
Resolred That the rules and orders, and the rules
of representation, adopted by this Convention at
its organization in 1851 be adopted for its govern
ment at this session.
Invitations to visit the following institutions were
then announced: House of Refuge, Public Schools,
Washington Monument, and Exchange Rooms. The
invitations were accepted, with the thanks of the
| Convention.
The Committee to nominate permanent officers,
presented the following report, which was unani-
| mously adopted:
Preyident-Dr. VIM. NJ. Kemp, of Baltimore
Vice Preside"ts-Dr. John NJ. Moriarty, of Bos-
ton; George N Eaton, ESQ.,, of Baltimore; DR.. P.
c. Gaillard, of Charleston, n. G.
Seeretdries-Charles H. Haswell, ESQ.,, of New
York; DR.. D. J. McKew, of Baltimore; Hon. F. F.
Ferguson, of Norfolk.
On motion of DR.. William Riley, of Baltimore,
the following gentlemen, constituting delegate
| from each State represented in the Convention,
were appointed a committee to report business for
the consideration of the Convention.
DR.. Riley, Of Baltimore; Dr. Jewell of Philadel-
phia; Alderman Wightman, of Massachusetts, DR..
! Snow, of Rhode Island; DR.. Arnold, of Georgia.
DR.. Gaillard of South Carolina Alderman Nc
Spedden, of New FORK; Mr.. Valentine, Of Delaware;
DR.. Nichols, of New Jersey; Dr. Force, of the
District of Columbia; Hon. F. F. Ferguson, of
Virginia.
DR.. Jewell, of Philadelphia, submitted the follow
ing resolution, which was referred to the business
committee
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to re-
port upon what measures are necessary to secure
the objects embraced within the call of this Conven-
uon and to enlist more general interest, and the
cooperation of municipal corporations, boards of
health, boards of trade, and the medical profession
in our sea-bOard cities in their behalf
On motion the Convention adjourned to re-assem-
bic at four o'clock
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Convention re-aSsembled at 4 o'clock, DR.. X emp
! mOrninp
were read and approved
DR.. Jewell, OF Philadelphia from the Business
Committee, presented report upon Quarantine
regulations, which stated that a reform in our
Quarantine laws was necessary. But before Il uni
form system could be established they were of opin-
ion that more enlarged information was requisite,
and to accomplish this purpose to the best advan-
tage, it proposed that committee be consti-
tuted "whose duties it shall be to prepare, with
great care, in time for another Convention, com
prehensive reports on the various questions immedi
ately connected with Quarantine-and that some
plan be adopted either through the influence of
Congress the Smithsonian Institution to give the
reports the widest possible circulation"
Having thus stated their views in as brief n
manner the subject will admit of, your committee
would respectfully offer the following resolution
for the action of the convention:
Resolved. That the following subjects be referred
to a committee, to investigate and report upon the
same at the next meeting of this convention, to
wit:
"lst. History of Quarantine"
''2d. Have Quarantnes secured the objects for
which they were originally instituted? If not, the
reasons Of their failure"
''3d. What reforms required to make quaran-
tines efficient and less burdensome ?"
9th. Is uniform system of quarantine laws
feasible %
The report as submitted was accepted and refer
red to committee of tive the Chairman to consti-
tute one of that committee.
A letter was read from DR.. j. H. Griscomb, of
New York, setting forth the necessity of some ac-
ton in reference to the best mode of expelling mi
asma from infected vessels
The following resolution offered by Alderman
Wightman, of Boston, was read and adopted:
Resoiced, That the Committee appointed to re-
port upon the subject of Quarantine, be requested
TO add to their investigation the consideration of
the best means to cleanse infected vessel.
\ motion to adjourn to 10 o'clock this morning,
then carried.
The following is full list of the delegates in at
tendance upon the Convention:
BosTov, Mass.
John NJ. Wightman, Board of Health.
Sas PIERCE,
Geo. Dennie, GO
Chas. Edmondson, :"
Saml d. Crane, g
Otis Rich, -"
Benz James, "
George A. Curtis, ="
| o. Brewster, "
Jesse Holbrook, :"
John NJ. Moriartv Port Physician.
James Aver, NJ. b.. Consulting Physician.
Charles r. Jackson NJ. D., Boston Med. x Sur. So
Henry G. Clark, NJ. D.. City Physician.
Geo. C. Shattuck, Med. Imp. Soc.
VIM. f. Coale, NJ D., Z"
Horace Richardson, NJ. D., Med Assistant.
Augustus A. Gould, Md, :"
Moses Kimbal Pres. Board Directors Pub. Inst
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