The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-04
QUARANTINE.
REPORT OF THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE
BEEN EXAMINING THE YELLOW
FEVER.
Their Views on Quarantine.
IN. Z. Tribune.I

IN Il. lIIDuue.J
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Tbe experts author.
ized by Congress to investigate the yellow
fever epidemic of 1878 submitted their report
to the joint congressional committee at ite
meeting this morning
The experts say that their conclusions are
based upon neo ssarily incomplete investi-
CATION oil the epidemc-iueompiete because
Of the urgent demand for public health ieeis-
lation during the present session of Com
grese. Otherwise the board might not be
held excusable for the seeming haste In deal
Ing with the subject. The board is unani-
nous In the opinion that the investigation
should be com mpleted. 1t is accordingly
recommended that two or three skilled ex-
perts be charged with the completion OF the
study OF the late epidemic, which can be con-
cluded In a few months, and that at least two
such experts be authorized to proceed to the
West Indies, there to make a more thorough
study Of the disease than has ever yet been
undertaken, and that they be accomp 4nied by
an experienced mlcroscopist 1t iS further
recommended that the necessary steps be
taken by Congress to secure the corporation
Of the Spanish and other foreign governments
through an International commission or
otherwise.
The object aimed at In the report ia to
prese Mt the outlines of system of quaran-
tine which may afford the greatest attainable
degree OF protection against the Introduction
and spread OIL Infectious epidemic diseases.
and at the same time lnfiict culy minimum
Two classes OF medical officers are suggested.
First-Medical officers OF health serve In
foreign ports from which this .untry receives
imporeations OF yellow lever and cholera,
second Medical officers of health to have
charge OF quarantine stations and to super
vise Interstate travel and traffic from
infected places In times of epidemic The
swO classes are cons dered indispensable to
ai3v method OF quarantine which does not
involve complete suspension OF intercourse
with iDFaQtp6 pnYta h.i hoard Iad ~
to be especially important that the selec-
ton Of these Off GERS should be made from
men skilled In medicine and sanitary science.
The success OF any modified quarantine
scheme depends ALMOST entirely upon the
competency and fidelity of its medical officers.
One of the difficulties which has confronted
the board in considering the subject Of quar-
anttne is the lack OF definite knowledge re-
spectiDg the duration Of life or the yirulence
OF poisons OF yellow fever and cholera. It is
now known that the polsons OF neither is sus-
ceptible OF long Vitality when exposed to the
open air, but II 10 not yet determined how
long its fnfeottOus properties may be pre-
served In closely shut chambers, or In COM
partment Of vessels, or when confined In the
folds of clothing or goods. 1t consequently
follows that ships are especially dangerous
carriers OF these diseases and also that they
remain sources OF infection for months after
having been infected with the poison.
II is deemed Of great Importance that means
may be provided by Congress for obtaining
trustworthy information by telegraph la re-
spect to the outbreak and progress OF cholera,
yellow fever and other epidemic diseases In
all parts Of the world, and the departure OF
vessels from infected ports bound for ports In
the United States The diffusion OF trust
worthy information among the people re-
specting the existence and progress OF pre-
ventible diseases at home and abroad should
be encouraged, as tending to avert the evils
OF panic, and TO promote measures of preyen-
ton.
The carrying into effect Of an efficient sys-
tenn OF gu Hantine contemDlates a central
authority or health department. and an adj
visory board Of health, to be COMPOSED of
men eminent In sanitary matters, who. to-
gether with the chief officer OF the health de-
partment, shall frame all needful rules and
regulations for carrying into effect subject
to the approval OF the President, such ma
tionI public health laws as may be enacted
The board dwelIs at considerable length on
the origin, cause and destructive features of
yellow fever, and says 1t is q specific disease,
and is produced by the introduction fu the
human organism of specific poison. The
specific poison OF yellow fever has never been
microsoopically nor chemically demonstrated,
nor In any way made evident to the human
senses. Nevertheless, the board holds that IT.
is safe to assume that 1t Is material and par
ticulate, and endowed with the ordinary prOn-
critics and subject to the ordinary laws OF ma
terial substances. Yellow fever is not ma
larial disease; that IL, it Is not the offsprino
Of that marsh miasm which produces paIudaJ
or periodic fevers and the board knows of no
facts which warrant the conclusion that ma
larial influences contribute toward the dis
semination and mortality Of yellow fever In
any other way or TO any greater extent than
they contribute toward the dissemina ion and
mortality OF other epidemic diseases In all
the countifes outside of the West Indies
which have been visited by it, yellow fever ig
an exotic disease, and in all OF them It's intro
duction can be traced either directly or indi-
rectly to the West Indies. In some Of them 1t
seems TO have established itself permanently,
and to have become endemic, as for examp(e
In the BraZtls. In most of them 1t has failed
of naturalization, and successive anidamies
can be traced to successive i'm portatfons.
Yellow fever has invaded the present terri
torial limits OF the Unithd States according
to the testimony OF existing records, In
eighty-eight different years For seventy
seven of these eighty-eight years, we have
evidence, more or less complete, OF importa-
ton; and in seventy-one out of these seventy
seven, the evidence points to the West Indies
as the eource OF the infection. -Four times
namely, In 1889 1874, 1847 and 1867-the in
fection has been traced to Mexico but in 1867
it was also traced to the West Indies. 1t is
said that In 1900 and 1888 the disease was
brought from Demarara, but IN lSOO IL was
also brought from the West indies. The
fever OF 1870 is attributed to Honduras.
Every endemic of yellow fever that has oc-
Cured In the United States has been ia chron-
ological sequence to the increased prevalence
OF the disease in countries To the south OF ug
with which at the time We were In COM
mercial communication.
The following scheme OF quarantine, con-
atrlotpd from purely medical standpoint is
recommended: The scheme contemplates two
classes Of medical officers class for for
ei9n service and one class for home seryice.
Medical officers OF health for foreign service
should be stationed at foreign ports Their
duties should De TO acquaint themselves thor
oughly with aii diseases usual to or at any
places to which tney are assigned. They
should forward reports OF outbreaks Of
cnoiera, yellow fever or other epidemic dis
eases, and OF the departure Of vessels from in
feeted ports or of vessels having on board
persons or goods from infected ports, to be
by telegraph or the most ex-
pedltlous manner to the chief health authority
at Washington. 1t should be their further
1uty to obtain the medical history OF all ships
trading to or from their respective ports In
regard to any previous occurrence of yellow
lever or cholera or other infectious epidemic
1lsease on board, and transmit the same for
The information nf tho said health ift,