New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-19
CONFERENCES AT WASHINGTON.
OFFICERS TO INSPECT SHIPS AT FOREIGN FEVER
PoRTS-HULK5 FOR HosPITAs-CAsEY YCtSG
DESPoNDENT AT THE PROSPECT.

OFFICERS TO INSPECT SHIPS AT FOREIGN FEVER
PoRTs-HULKs FOR HosPIrMs-CAsEY YCuSd
DEsPoSDENT AT THE PROSPECT
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON July 1S.-Some time ago the
National Board of Health applied to the President
for the detail of medical officers OF the Navy to act
as inspectors OF vessels sailing from Havana aud
Port au Prince to the United states After the APP
plication was fled information was received from
Minister Langston that the yellow fever had disa2-
pearcd from Port au Prince, and Matanzas was
accordingly substituted for that port in the appca
ton.
The subject was considered in the Cabinet meet
ing to-day and this afternoon Secretary ThOmp-
son, 10 whom the subject was referred held con.
ference with the Executive Committee OF the Ma
tional Board of Health He told the committee
that while he Is anxious to do everything in ms
power to aid the work, he fears thai IL will be i'm
practicable for him to find two medical officers
of the Navy who have been acclimated who can be
detailed at present. Indeed. he said he could think
of only one such officer who could be spared al
this time. He said however, that he would con-
slider the subject further aud arrive at decision
by next Monday. lfit is found that the detail can
not be made from the medical corps of the Navy.
the President will be asked TO detail medical officers
from some other branch of che service
portance, and regrets that the law docs not permit
she employment of civilians for the service.
Another subject considered at the conference to-
day was an application of the Board To have two
hulks sent to the mouth Of the Mississippi TO be
used as fever hospitals IN case Of an emergency.
The Secretary said he could not grant such applca-
tions for if he did the whole Navy OF the United
States might be required to tow hulks to the places
desired. He said that if hulk should be found at
any place where fever hospital Is necessary. ne
would very gladly turn 1t over to the local quaran-
tine authorities TO be used for that purpose.
DR.. Cobell of the Board of Health, says that ha
looks upon the situation in Memphis as very
ominous especially because of the intense neat Of
the last few days and the esrlines Of the season in
which the cases of fever have appeared. On tie
other hand he hopes that these may be ouly
sporadic cases such as have always appeared here
tofore in the year following an epidemic: He says
that from the information he has received he thinks
the people of Memphis have not received due credit
for tue r hercuean efforts TO improve the sanitary
condition of the city. lie understands that so Tar
the cleaning OF streets and alleys and tDe local
use of disnfectants are concerned, great deal nas
been done, and he is assured by DIR. Mltcne oil tine
National Board, that Memphis is IN a better sani-
tary condition now than it has ever been before.
Representative Casey Young called Al the rooms
of the Board of Health this morning ana urged tho
Board 10 adopt and enforce as lar AZ
possible the use OF one or morv dlSnfect-
ants which made use OF under ms
own supervision with good results IN Memphis
lust year. General Young Is quite respondent over
the prospect of repetition Of the horrors "a laal
year which he fears is inevitable, lie says that
there came within his own personal knowledge ln-
stances where whole communities were sweeps away
from localities situated fayOrably 70 ali appear.
ance, Us If they had been III gland, and
where 1t had always before been thought ImposslDs
that the fever should come.