Wilmington journal., 1876-07-07
TERMS OF sUBSCR IPION

L. dur city Safe ?-ss the Health of.
flcer aG SruithviIie a COnpeten,
MAN ?-Let Governor srogden An
swer.
The necessity of Il strict quarantine
for the preservation of the health oi
this city against disease brought into
our port by foreign vessels is SO great
dnrino the summer season that it be.
comes most important question for
onr citizens to know whether or not
tho officer charged with administering
the quarantine laws IS tit for the posi-
ton.
We regret very much that there
sbould be any cause for doubt about
the competency of the officer in charge
at Smithville. Had DIR. Potter, the
former incumbent, not been removed
Inv Governor Brogden for no cause, SO
far as ia known, save that he was not
Radical, our people would not have
become uneasy.
What qualifications DIR. s. 2.
Wright, the present incumbent, pos
sesses we know not. AS stated be-
low he is. if we mistake not, what
is commonly called carpet
Dagger who at one time had drug
store in this city and subsequently
kent hotel at GOlisborO. Beyond
this we know little or nothing about
him. He may be qualified for the
position or he may not. We cannot
tell. We make no objection to DIR.
Wright because of his political opin,
ions as we have long since ceased to
expect any appOintee Of Governor
BrogdensnOt to be n strict partizan
In common. however, with the other
citizens of Wilmington, we have
right to expect competent man to be
appointed to fill position requiring
the performance OF dutias affecting the
very existence of the city.
We cali npon Governor Brogden TO
know whut proofs he has, if
any, of Dr. Wright's fitness for
the place he occupies and we
warn him Ill time, now before any
mischief il done, that he will he held
lenee shall seize this city for lack of
proper observance of the quarantine
laws
This is n serious matter involving
the health happiness, the very exist
ence indeed OF near twenty thousand
people, and is we'll worth the attention
of Governor Brogden.
The following communications show
that the subject is attracting the atten-
ton it deserves. Will Governor Brog- |
den heed the warning ?
TO the EdilOr Of the Wilmington JOatr- |
nal:
DEAR SIR:-In view of the fact that
We are having one of the warmest |
summe, that Wilmington has known
for the past thirty years, and as such
continued weather is calculated to
produce sickness i'll Our midst, every
care should be taken to prevent the
spread of disease. One of the greatest
matters of intereaC to this entire com
munity is the appointment ut Smith
Vile of Il health officer who thoroughly
understands his business, and in whom
every one should have the utnlOst cO7a-
fde1tce as an experienced physician. Is
this the case at this time? 1t hehooves us
to examine into this at once, for Wills
mington has too many precious lives
at risk, and exposed to terrible diseases
brought in by vessels from foreign
ports. | ask that this matter of a port
physician may be thoroughly sifted,
and that the Governor be petitione6
to remove the present incumbent and
appoint physician that will give con-
fdence to the people here and at
Smlthvllle. CITIZEN.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-The steady adj
vance of sanitary science invests the
question of quarantine with increasing
Importance, as each revolving yeur
leaves its record Of sickness and death.
Preventable diseases and State medi-
cine now make up a subject of great
practical Importance to all our people.
especially to those most exposed to the
terrible visitations of cholera, smali~
pOx and yellow fever. There is no re6-
son, in the present advanced stage of
medical science, with the floods of the
lights of knowledge now dispelling the
gloom of prejudice and the darkness
of ignorance, why the e fearful afflic-
tions should be allowed to obtain a
fOOthold upon our shores or to infest
our Atlantic cities at all. The science
of quarantine, when correctly under
stood aud applied by a scientific and
sklllful physician, may well say, in this
enlightened day, to all these yymatic
diseases, ''thus far thou may
come, but no further" If,
on the other hand, ignorance
or neglect exists in that phys cial who
holds the very responsible position of
quarantine physician-a position for
which any medical man is unfit who is
skilled in practice-then any city upon |
our coast, Wilmington as soon as any, |
is constantly liable to an attack of
small pox, yellow fever or some other |
violent epidemic, infectious or conta- !
giOus i'll character. At this seaSOn-Of |
the year of course the danger lies in
an assault of yellow fever upon Will
mington by is Introduction from
abroad through vessels coming to our
port.
These remarks are suggested by the
recent, urcalied for, unjustiliable, and
extraordinary course of Governor
Brogden, in turning out the recent
Quarantine physician of the port of
Wilmington, DIR. r. W. Potter, and |
putting i'll his place the present in
eumbent DIR. Sins p Wright The !
appointment, or change at any time, |
OF port physician of our city rests by |
law with the Governor. What are the |
qualifications for the place of the two
physiciana? DIR. Potter is n gentleman
oil nigh personal and professional char
scter-oi grea acc"ptability TO the
puhilc at large, especially to the peo-
pie most Interested in this matter-the
clllzens Of Wilmington. He enjoys
Tue c1nhd@nGe t1 al unu -uaI xtcnt of
Tue entire population OF Wilmington.
anu by hls skillfuI and successful adj
u''hlStratInn of the duties of ;Iuaran-
Nhs physician, had won their high
eearhs III d warm support. No one
oou'd say nnght against him as med.
"'5 olacer, always ut his post, faithful
1la anu able III duty. Holding. i'll the
lLoiioW of Lis hand. as it were, the
nealth aud safety of Wilmington from |
tl6S0 0aSf Il <,F g.