The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-06

From the long list of learned bodies that meet
annually to ventilate new-tangled theories to talk
much, and TO do nothing-we take pleasure in ex-
cephng the Quarantine Convention that has lust
closed its laborS in New York. Limiting the field
of discussion to matters strictly pertinent to the
occasion, very early in the session, these medical
delegates set boldly to work to examine into the
propriety of personal Quarantine" and after
an animated discussion, the Convention deci-
ded by vote of IS to 6, that personal
quarantine, in certain cases, may be safely
abolished, or, in other words that yellow
fever patients after being stripped washed and re-
clothed in apparel which has not been saturated
with the noxious effluya generated by the disease
may be conveyed at once to the hospital or TO their
own homes without endangering the public health
a greater innovation than this upon the old medi-
cal theory of innoculation by personal contact, in
cases of yellow fever can scarcely be imagined
but so confident were the advocates of the new
doctrine, OF the truth of the theory they had es-
poused, that they boldly challenged those "Gentle-
'men of the old School - who protested to be still
skepcal to cite single instance in which the dis
ease had been contracted from the person of the
patient. To this challenge there was no reply.
beyond an earnest protest on the part of the ven
cradle DR.. FRANCIS, of New York, against any
change being sanctioned by the faculty in exist.
ing Quarantine regulations. But the members of
the Convention-with the few exceptions already
noted-were so dramatically opposed to counte-
nancing any longer the restrictions which had
been imposed upon patients suffering from yellow
fever, that they formally repudiated old ''use and
fIypn md ,1o
deliberate opinion, that personal quarantine
should henceforth be dispensed with. But whilst
there is much that might be said in favor of this
proposed innovation upon old usages, there are
yet some suggestions which appear to us to be not
wholly unworthy of consideration. OF course,
it is perfectly proper that every precaution should
be observed to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases, and wherever reasonable doubt exists,
with regard to the manner in which, and the OBJ
jects by which, the plague or cholera, or yellow
fever is generated the decision should be in favor
of the community. IT. therefore, the subecting
cf persons coming from a foreign port to the laws
Oh quarantine, has tendency TO allay the popu-
iar lear Oh injection, however oppressive such
regulations might be IN individual cases. the re-
pefu ol those regulations would certainly be un-
wise. 1t is the duty of every municinalitv IN
protect the health of its citizens; and altborob
some of the measures that are taken to nror,oto
this result may be esteemed by medical men 90
wholly supererogatory, yet, if they serve to in
spire with confidence the ignorant and the timid.
their utility cannot fairly be questioned. We do
not, however, desire to be understood as implying,
by these remarks, that the members of the Quar-
antine Convention not perfectly right in the
conclusions they have reached, but while receiv-
ing, with all due Difference the opinion they have
expressed in matter purely professional as that
which they undertook to discuss, and admitting
that the restrictions heretofore imposed upon yell
low fever patients sought to be abolished" it is
still proper to inquire what effect such
change in the present Quarantine regulations
would have upon the public mind. 1t is worthy
of note, moreover, that the proposition of the
Quarantine Convention deals directly with yellow
fever patients, and not with others who NAV be
on board in the apparent enjoyment of good
health. It takes for granted that the lat