New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-14
Report OF mr.. M. A. southwOrIh, R Resident
Physician.

QUARANTINE SYSTEM OF LOUISIANA
Report Of Dr. M. A. southwOrIh, Resident
Physician.
MISSISSIPPI QUARANTINE STATION LOUISIANA. 1
s January ], 1877.
d. B. F. Gsuae., President Board of Health. New
oreant;
DEAR SRI have the honor to report
that during the year 1876 1852 vessels, CON
veying Il, ESQ persons, were duly inspected
at and passed from this station. toward
New Orleans. OF this number 1873 vessels,
conveying 1921 persona, we're subjected 70
sanitary treatment, e to aeration, fumi-
cation and disinfection.
For full understanding and appreciation
Of our present quarantine treatment of
vessels and quarantine system it is neoes-
Rary to refer TO pre- existing laws and GUS
toms.
The quarantine laws Of Louisiana, en-
acted in 1855 and 1858, and in force without
material alteration until 1876, direct shat
the Governor of the State shall issue his
proclamation, upon the advice Of the Board
% Health, declaring any place where there
nhall be reason 10 believe a pestilenfial
contagious or infectious disease TO exist, TO
be m injected place, and stating the num-
Der Of dayno OF quarantine to be performed"
This proclamation Of the Governor neces-
saTily made imperative the detention of ali
vessels from the "plaeeB" TINS designated,
and for the time thus designated Since
la55 the designated time Of detention has
varied from twenty days TO ten days, until
1875, when IL was reduced to ten DAYS from
the infected port, including the day Of de-
parture. Evidently this system OF quaran-
tine, which does not materially vary from
that n0w prevailing in other Southern
ports has been Of great injury during the
last 1WentY years 90 the commerce Of New
OEleanas and IL has been a deeideratum to
Ana soma less objectionable means to pro.
tect the city and State from the importation
Of disease
IL this connection permit me to refer to
my ofBeial communication through your
oAess dated September 10, 1875. In it 1
state:
"8aE quarantine laws were enacted about
twenty years ago. Announcements in sani.
1ery knowledge now justify and CONNER
qlAl lateeests require their very essential
modification
San imperative time quarantine applied
equally to VI vessels, is now unnecessary
and ine4pedient The dstention Of vessels
is not emily 3 serious evil 10 commerce gen.
orally, bat especially to the port where the
qunrantina is estsblished. II should there
fore be reduced to the shortest pnssi-
ble time compatible with the safety 81 the
eonmunity 70 Be protected; but evidently
t1le une will vary with different vessele,
anq no law Arbitrarily nxing it viii be ap-
n1opsiate for all.
4 respectfully suggest that the laws
4Aeuld BE- 90 amended Is 70 permit, under
ordinary circumstances, the passage Of
1fa12utf1e BY those veasels from infected
RQEta that have unobiectionable cargoes,
ARC no esekneas on board, after detention
d LaW hours for thorough aerafion. disip.
<41lIou and fnmiga6ion, and the removal
tnd ltmporary detention Of all unacelin.
.1 perAone who are lees than eight Or ten
4dte lftfn infected localities.
IL j. Ao1 assumed that this will render
tlI4 conveyance Of oentaGi0n or Infection
Na4s lq&1autiHe wholly impossible, nor Is IL
1e|G t141 an additional detention Of ten
4a8s VII do 90, but It will 50 greatly di-
tD tso 4aHger that Il win be really an.
an when eompazed with other great
Involved Az thare ara here no
e1 ter unloading vessels, and are not
aHs ~ Be any is the future tbs advan.
t&nIf1s from the looFer detention,
ltl are any, arc HI1ro than outWeighed
W fle necessarily resulting from Il.
vessels with Contagious o. in
e1 On bo4fd, or with ohjeo-
ray require q longer do
ne r1ela4 81 detention should
HH1l v t1e resident physician,
% zuln toleH anf regulations 81
4le nT the Boerd af Hoalthp
va NT1atoRa were made ~ nv an
Nt4 81 61e Boara q 3oalth aud 70
t1al 4of 1879. II January. 1876
kellogg recommended % the
q mofeflel Modification az oar
Pc I4Ns. aNN II lo1p1une thereto.
af lseona sndazions Of tbs Board
4no the ctomter Ok Cemmerco,
4~E Law vaH enacted.
1 \ That the Boa1d 81 Hs61th 81
1Ul3seE Be and y hefsby ~
poWe1qa ~ - di4laiIoa
I10AH l.t|.