The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-01-15
THR PUBLIC HE ALTH.


/ its investigations al New Orleans on the
/ 9Th. and have been well crammed with
contradictions upon the various phases
f of the yellow fever question. There
will be a Joint meeting of the committees
of the two houses of Congress, and the
medical experts, in Washington on the
18th inst, and then the country viii
have the products of their labors in the
form OF a bill which we hope will prove
satisfactory. Again We desire to warn
the members from the States most in
danger Of the plague, to consent to moth
ing which will interfere with the rights
/ of States, counties and municipalities to
enforce their own health protective
measures. Between them aud ourselves,
we beg leave to say, that here, after all
the public reliance for safety in these
States, depends.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE
The Governor of Tennessee takes strong
ground in the message, for the enlarge
ment of the powers and the means of
the State Board OF Health. He says:
Under the authority OF Tie act approved
March Z6 1871 providing tor state Board
OF Heall h. / commissioned Drs j. ID.
Plunkett, I. A AUchiSoH at j. VI. fort.
OF the county OF ID tYIGSon; DIR r. NJ.
Wright, ot the county of Hamilton. and
DR. X. b Maury. II The county OF Shelby.
Recent events have demonstrated he i'm
poFtance OF ii mere efficient organization o
this board. Il sho Ii be provided with
money, anii with authority to publish aud
enforce Intelligent sanitary regulations.
Earlier attention to this subject. it is De
lieVed, would have secured more general
immunity TO the state from the late fever
epidemic. aud saved many cit Zen- from the
suffering aud de,titution OF which they
were the helpless victims. TIE cholera. m
epidemic 10 IN, has made its appearance on
the eastern cost OF China at point wish
which The Unit States maintains close
commercial relations. Its march, so far, is
upon the usual line of travel. and it Will be
criminal negligence in the STATE if 10
IN tasures are adopted TO exclude il from
her borders, The obligation OF the S ate to
protect tie person ana property OF the cit
izen is not more binding than il is to pro-
tect him against the ravages of the epidem-
&c disease. aud there is certainly no bur
den for lie taxpayer that VIII be carried
with 50 much cheerful:.tss aS that created
for the preservation of the health of his
family.
y State so desolated as Tennessee has
been by cholera and yellow fever, and
threatened a. i still i by these terrible
plaques, should appropriate not less than
ten thousand dollars per annun for the cur
rent work OF the board of he uth, and clof he
t with authority 10 quarantine the whole
or any part of the STATE against infected
points.
GOV NICHOLS OF LOUISIANA
The Governor of Louisiana speaks in
terms no less emphatic:
Tn ravages If the last yellow fever cpl
demic, which prevailed 50 de- tructiVely in
the city OF New Orleans and in other por-
tions of the State during the summer and
tall months OF the year inst gone by. point
TO t fact that no more i'm portant subject
requires you attention than the considera-
ton Of the measures necessary to prevent
its recurrence, 1t is a question affecting
not only the life and happiness of the peo-
pie OF the State, but also thei: material ad-
vancrmeut.
There exists some difference of opinion
as TO whether the yellow lever is always
b ought to New Orleans, or whether il
originates ere. There exist also difference
OF opinion As TO the effectiveness of quaran-
tine as = measure OF safety against the in |
PRODUCTION and spread OF the disease r
| believe the only way of thoroughly test |
ing the efficacy Of quar- antiHe as Il means to
wards pr,VeEting the introduction from
foreign ports of yellow fever into New Or |
leans and other portions of louisiana, i by |
opportunity for evaStonS resortrd |
TO tor the promotIon of private interests |
and cupidity. When, therefore, the State |
Board OF HEALTH announces thar. in its opin- |
ion, there exist sufficient grounds for enforc-
ing quarantine against foreign infected |
ports, 40 vessel. person or article should be |
pe 'miited to enter the port Of the city of
New Orleans, or any ether port of the |
State open to the Cult OF NJ exico, so long as |
the necessity for quarantine continues to |
exist. The Board OF Health and all officers |
with the quarantine service |
should be placed beyond he power of either
de ceUtiOn or TEN pf alton. \ board com
posed OF thoroughly representative men
would not be likely to exercise lightly the
power OF establishing quarantine when the
results would be so serIcus TO a portion OF
he business community. There could be
no motive for its doing so. Between the
pressure which, beyond all doubt. would be
brought 10 bear upon If in favor of tarlilY
* ercising dis power, and the responsible
~ whicii would attach to the board should +
t inn perry yield to this pressure, it
would be SAFE II assume that the board
would take its concience aud judgment as
Is only guide.
WHAT CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS SAY.
Extract from an Address numerously
signed
We deem it the sacred duty of the Gem
raj and State Governments, and OF every
to put forth their Gullesr
powers to protect our common country
rom the terrible inflction of another vel ,
ow fever epidemic Dy timely, prudent and
ecsive action, to exclude its foreign |
Introduction, or TO prevent its domestic
prFad, If human foresight can provide
dequate protection against or mitigation
# 4 disease. the fearful ravageS OF which |
re so fresh in our recoliectiOus and are so |
much TO be dreaded 'or the future 8
The advantages OF an absolutely strict :
quarantine have been eXem pliiied wit such
Apply results during the recent yellow fever
'isitati"n, in many communities where it 7
vas enforced. equally liable To its ravages,
s TO make us regard the mooted questions J
It its being of foreign or domestic origin, g
r of quarantine being injurious 10 com ,
lerre, too Insignificant to be cOnsidrr red in 1
onnection with the sanitary welfare and +
of thousands of our country m on.
Tie experience, earnestly aud thoroughly |
made, will at least demonstrate its proven L
i've efficacy. If ii proves successful rem
dy. multitudes Will bless its adoption; lift a
ais, attention can be more entirely cen
entrated upon what may prove 70 be the 10
al origin o a disease that has SO long '
aftied scientific research aud upon which .
ven the most celebrated scientists and
hgsicians diffar widely rs ever.
That Gov. Nichols be solicited to direct :
ur Legislature. soon as it convens, TO give /
Is most earnest and careiul consideration
o this vitality important question sugges-
ng especially that our BOARD of HEALTH
e clothed with enlarged powers and pro'i-
ed with ample means, that To enable tito
ope successfully with all diffculiie that
nay embarrass its action in the perform
nee of the important duties it is chaI ged