The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-16
SANITARY SCIENCE.
The Conclusions Reached by the National
Board Of Health at Atlanta
INaw York Tribune.

WASHINGTON, May 11.-Dr. Turner, presi-
dent, and DR.. Billings, vice president, OF the
National Board OF Health. have arrived ~
Washington from Atlanta, whittier they went
to take part In the deliberations OF the board
and In the medical conventions which have
been In session in that city.
Dr. Turner describes the session OF the
board as an interesting and harmonious one
Although great disappointment was felt on
account Of the failure of the Harris Yellow
Fever bill, which made provisions for carry
Ing into effect sucn plans as the Board might
fix upon, yet valuable results will grow out
of the meeting.
AS the American Medical Association was
i'm session at Atlanta at the same time, there
ere called to that city the most eminent
men OF the profession from ell parts of the
country The Sanitary Council Of the Mis-
sissippi Valley which contains many eminent
medical men from the section which was lately
sco,lrged by the yellow fever, adjourned lis
meeting, which had been called at Memphis,
and reassembled at Atlanta, where its menu
bers could consult with those of the National
Board Of Health. There were also present,
| by invitation Of the board, oil the principal
health and quarantine officers of the United
States.
| A thorough comparison OF views disclosed
q practical unanimity Of opinion with regard
to the necessity for united action, and there
was general harmony Of views as to what the
action should be. Dir. Vanderpool, of New
! York gave the board his opinions based upon
/ his GXLADHpu experience Will lUS IRIUhIhdDit
results as health officer Of New York. In
general terms 1t may be said that the testi-
| mony of all the quarantine and health officers
was TO the same effect, and that the plans
which the board will recommend to Congress
| for adoption as O. national quarantine system
| OF laws will not be dissimilar to those now In
operation In New York This, it Is believed
will be relief rather tEan burden on com
merce, especially in Southern ports. LII New
| Orleans, for example, where the quarantine
| loxx nj In nnaratinn rpn11ira twaptv
days detention of vessels coming from Ha-
vana, no detention beyond that necessary for
the publication OF the vessel and cargo will
be recommended, and this should not exceed
five days from the day OF leaving Havana.
The plans decided upon will also include an
inspection of the vessel before sailing from
any infected foreign port, and certain course
of procedure while en- route to America.
| With regard to internal commerce, the re-
suits were less definite, owing to the fact that
the board had no opportunity to consult with
railroad and steamboat men, representing in
terests which must be largely affected. In
the conclusions which were reached, the board
was governed to a considerable extent by the
recommendations Of the sanitary council OF
the Mississippi valley. In brief, these were
as follows: All steamboats, before leaving
any seaport for inland points are to be exam
ined by the sanitary authorities and a certitl
cate given In accordance with the facts. IT,
while on their passage up the river, any cases
Of fever should break out, authority Is to be
given to order the infected vessels back at
once. No such authority now exists any.
where. With regard TO railroads, a Gordon Is
to be established at a distance of from twenty
to sixty miles around any place where the
, fever prevails. and passengers, baggage ant
freight are tn be examined and transferred tf
other cars, and In case Of necessity more
+ rigorous measures are to be applied to pre-
: vent the spread Of the contagion.
The feeling in all parts Of the South was
represented as being very earnest In regarc
9 to these matters: and 1t Is believed that shot
!. gun quarantine. and even the destruction o
$ railroads and steamboats,, will be resorted Il
by the people themselves in case Of anothe
Q outbreak Of the yellow fever, ii Congress
q should not provide for o national quarantine
system Among the conclusions reached b,
= the Sanitary Council Of the Mississippi Vale
was one TO the effect that intelligence shoult
/ be Immediately sent to all members Of th
lcouncil whenever case of yellow fever shoul
develop itself in place within the knowledg
. of Its members Heretofore there has Away
: been disposition to conceal the presence G
yellow fever.