New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-12
QUARANTINE AS AN INTERRUPTION TO
INTERCOURSE.

did their history.
QUARANTINE AS AN INTERRUPTION II
INTERCOURSE.
With all its blessings steam has brough
some inconvenience to society. Thu
rap idity with which intercourse is nov
effected dif'uses epidemic disease almos
without the possibility of prevention. L
precipitates financial complications and
com.pels contamination of liabilities
more rapidly than under different system
ofintercommunication. Perhaps this ra-
pidlty natures the elements of settlement
sooner. so that financial obligations are
settled rather by series Of periodical
adjust ments than by al accumulation OF
debt which smbarrasses the action of a
| gen Grafton of merchants. This is the
law tina: governs acute and chronic dis
| eases, under which series Of choleritic
attacks is to be preferred to 81 apoplexy
that an old fellow las been life time in
getting up, and from which he never recov-
ers. 1t was our purpose, however. to treat
OF the effect which steam travel has had in
precipi tating and diffusing epidemic dis
eases. In the old times. the diseases OF
the tro pics could only have been i'm
ported through the ports which traded
with the tropics. I: came in with the
same 70 rmalities as cargo CT coffee or
sugar. 1t WIS 20 be KEEP: out with the
same systematic vigilance that prevented
the entry Of struggled goods.
Wit b modern facilities FOR the Lis:ribu-
ton of passengers, por: quarantined is
the We ry last place that a passenger from
an infe cted port will enter. The rapidity
of inter- transportation carries these
passen gers. throughout the entire interior
of the country. and tie infection is per-
haps more apt to appear in an interior
town than in the outport cities, which con-
duct Intercourse directly with the foreign
and INF ected port. New York, Baltimore,
Phila delphia. are within :our or five days
of Havana New York has imported d.
rec: this year, from Cuba. more cases Of
yellow fever than New Orleans. Why
then may not the appearance Of yellow
fever in the interior towns have come rs
we'll from either Of these cities as from New
Orleans! Blu. from the increased fac!li.
ties o: internal intercourse the tendency
to quarantine has been also greatly in
creased. No longer does the country RELY |
upon closing the outer gates Of commerce.
It now finds distractions at many internal |
points. imposed as the panic or interests
Of thos points may dictate. We pub
llshed q case where the inhabitants of |
Navasota, in Texas, had arrested the |
progress OF . train loaded with starving
immigr ants. and noted the collision pos
sible between G fedora! officer and the
terrified people. This is but one of a long
series Of similar cases in which Calves.
on and Houston led tho way, and
many smaller towns followed. These
'ases will compel Congress. at its
,ext session to take up the question
whether this assumed power to stop the
public mails. Obstruc: a national post
cute. arrest the traveller and common
arrier. can be left TO the unrestricted dis
retion Of every railroad station in the
ountry. This reasoning and these facts
cad our mind to the irresistible conclu-
ion that Congress should take exclusive
Of the subject Of quarantine.
his the ablest iurists have decided it may
o under the power TO REGULATE COM
lefce among the States"
The epidemic Of yellow fever is a ter
bic scourge. 1t is as liable to appear a:
ne place as another. Il inspires IN
sasonable psnic. and sometimes inex-
lsable cupidity il the counsels OF those
no find their profit in the excluded. com
atition Of bette: markets with larger
ocks. 1t is better. then. that a govern. 1.
ent charged with tae exclusive regulation :
commerce among the States. and with
le duty of maintaining the postal inter. q
'urse Of the country. should take charge .
this salutary protection 70 the public :;
9alth. which, misapplied. may do so >
ucb injury to the public commerce.