The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31

n of these IS years have evidence more or less
complete OF importation; and in II out of these II
the evidence points to the West Indies the
or the Infection. Four tiIncs-anlely in 1852 1884,
| lsi7 ana ls67-the infection has been traced to
Mexico but in 1867 it also traced the West In
dies. IL is said that ia 1890 and 1888 the disease was
brought from bemerara. but in 1850 1t
also brought from the West Indies. The fever OF
1870 is attributed to Honduras Every epidemic OF
yellow fever that has occurred the United states
has been in Chronological sequence the increased
prevalence Of the disease in countries to the south Of
us with which at the time in commercial
communication. The testimony that has been relied
upon to prove that the disease has sometimes been
of Indigenous origin in some of our southern sea-
ports--as for example. New Orleans-is mostly of a
negative character and is certainly not conclusive
While we know OF no facts which establish the prop
Ostion that yellow fever has become indigenous or
epidemic in any part OF the United States there are
facts which seem to warrant the inference that in
of Southern cities the specific poison of the
disease, when hidden away from the cold sheltered
places may live through mild winter and give RISE
during the succeeding summer to scattered OF
the fever 1t would seem to be Theoretically probable
that these scattered would in their turn give
TO epidemic but the proof they have ever
done so is not conclusive.
HOW TRANSMITTED.
Yellow fever is transmitted and oceans
in steamships and sailing vessels. and the infection
may be connected with the vessels themselves the
cargoes with the crews and passengers. Ordinary
merchandise in original unbroken packages may
become injected and lead to outbreaks OF yellow
fever, but for obvious it is much less likely
to prove dangerous than bedding and wearing APP
parel.. Packages of this class may become infected
from having stored in an infected house. or from
having been shipped i'll an infected vessel.
After briefly treating cholera the report Says
Every epidemic of cholera in the United States has
followed as sequence to It's epidemic prevalence in
Europe and India
MEANS OF PREVENTION.
Under the heading of the third question with
which the Board were charged with regard to the
proper steps necessary to be taken for the prevention
of the introduction Of yellow fever and cholera into
the United States appears the following
The legal enactments of various countries in
spect to the sanitary management OF ships and the
sanitary memoranda from time to time distributed
for the guidance of owners and masters of ships have
all failed in accomplishing the great end of making
them healthy. They still performed the unenviublc
role of carriers of pcstilence We therefore find that
the recommendations most worthy of confidence in
clude-rst, the surveillance ships at the time of
sailing from infected ports any port of the United
States second their inspection. detention and disin
fecsion when found necessary upon reaching our
coast.
GUARANTEES REcoaMENpxD
The following scheme Of quarantine. constructed
from purely medical standpoint, ID recommended
This scheme contempatcs two classes of medical
oiiicersone class for foreign service and class
for home service. Medical officers of health for
eign service should be stationed the foreign
ports having commercial relations with the United
irfec tious diseases prevail. Their duties should be
to acquant Themselves thoroughly with all diseases
usual to- or ut any time prevalent in or around the
respective places to which they assigned. and to
make to chief health authority at Washington the
same reports az are now required of consular officers
by section ofthc National Quarantine act approved
April 20, 1873. They should forward reports Of
outbreaks of cholera, yellow fever other epidemic
diseases, and OF the departure OF vessels from u-
fected ports of vessels having board persons
goods from infected ports, to be communicated by
telegraph or the st expeditions manner to chief
health authority at Washington. 1t should their
further duty to obtain the medical history of all
ships trading to or from their respective ports in
gard 10 any previous occurrence of yellow fever
cholera other infectious epidemic disease board
and transmit the same for the information of said
health authority.
REQUIRED sANIrARY CONDITION.
Insanitary situations or modes Of living deteriorate
human health and strength and thus diminish the
power OF resisting the Of disease 1t there
fore follows that the most perfect local sanitary
formly maintained in cities and towns and their
surroundings. Filth should not be allowed to accu-
mulate, should the sanitary reform be deferred
until yellow fever has made its appearance.
There Is much testimony showing that the effu-
vium which emanates from the bodies of the dead
may be associated with infection 1t is therefore
recommended that the bodies OF persons who die of
yellow fever be promptly buried and that the as
sembling OF persons at funerals be discouraged.
No drugs are known which can be relied upon as pre-
ventives OF yellow fever cholera. 1t should DO
noted that the diarrh9a. preliminary to cholera, is
anenablo to treatment, consequently when cholera
is prevalent persons should be instructed to apply
for treatment advice in reference to this symptom
as Is an as wei. as senesay
pIMINurIoN OF NATIONAL WEALTH.
At least eighteen thousand land probably as many
twenty thousand) deaths from yellow fever have
occurred during the late epidemic. OF this number
some three-ffths minors and two-ffths were
according i to the basis of valuation already men.
j
twenty thousand OF sickness from yellow fever
took place during the same period The loss OF time
of these patients was public loss, and should be
considered in any computation on the subject. The
average duration OF their illness and commissioned
is not far from twenty-five days. and the value of
their time may be put at fifty cents day. This item
would amount to 81 100000. TO this sum should be
added the value of the labor diverted from produc-
ton or useful activity by attendance upon 100000
sick persons ten days EACH at fifty cents per day,
s60o.ooO We not able to estimate correctly the
total losses this country. but these losses have
been variously estimated by others at sums ranging
from S1OO 900, 900 to 500, $1,000.
INDIGENOUS CAUSES.
With the exception of DR.. Louis A. Falligant the
Board voted unanimously on the above proposition.
That gentleman says:-
While indorsng fully the necessity OF well regu-
lated quarantine to protect the people OF this coun
try against exposure to the importation Of infectious
diseases from abroad and against the spread of SINH
lar diseases in our midst. hold the view that
yellow fever may be developed by indigenous well
as by imported poison cannot overlook the fact
that while fire will explode powder the fire may be
produced one locality by electricity in another by
the collision Of flint and STEEL aud in still another by
striking match.
SCARF Eft FEVER