The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-02-19
Report of the Board of Experts
Who Have Been AnVesGiGating
the Yellow Fever Epidemic.
From the Medical and surgical Reporter.

From the Medical and Surgical Reporter
The Board of Experts, authorized by Con-
gress to investigate the yellow fever cpl
demic of 1878, submitted their report to
the joint Congressional committee at its
meeting on Jan. 81. After stating that their
investigation has been incomplete because
of the urgent demands fer public health
legislation during the present session of
Congress, the report says: THE Board is
unanimous in the opinion that the investi-
cation OF the late epidemic should be com
pleted, and that the study OF the natural
history of yellow fever should be systemat-
ically pursued, and especially that the in
quiries should embrace the perpetually in
tected parts of the West Indies, whose fields
give greatest promise of practical results as
the reward of faithful scientific inquiry. 1t
Is accordingly recommended that two or
three skilled experts be charged with the
completion of the study of the late epidem-
ic, which can be concluded in a few months.
and that at least two such experts be au-
thOriZed to proceed to the West Indies, there
to make more thorough study of yellow
fever than has ever yet been undertaken,
and that they be accompanied by an expe-
rienced microscopic. 1t is further recon-
mended that the necessary steps be taken
by Congress to secure the cooperation of
the Spanish and other foreign governments,
through an international commission or
otherwise, in an earnest effort to ascertain
the cause or causes which perpetuate the
y
West India Islands, and to devise ways
to remove the cause or causes, or to lessen
the chances of transporting the poison to
the United States or other countries.
The report further recomme ends the estab-
lishment of a thorough quarantine system
through the appointment Of two classes of
medical ofhcers-first, medical officers OF
health to serve in foreign ports from which
We receive importations OF yellow fever and
cholera; secondly, m edical officers OF health
n
to supervise Interstate travel and traffic
from Injected places in times of epidemic.
These two classes of medical officers are
considered Indispensable to any method of
quarantine which does not involve com plete
suspension of intercourse with infected
parts. The Board regards il especially i'm
portant that the selection of these officers
should be made from men skilled in medi-
cine and sanitary science, as the success Of
any modified quarantine scheme depends
almost entirely upon the competency ald
fidelity of its medical officers 1t is also
deemed Of great Importance that the means
may be provided by Congress for obtaining
trustworthy Information by telegraph in
respect 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 trustworthy information repre-
senting the existence aud progress OF pre-
{
be encouraged as tending to avert the evils
of panic and to promote measures of pre-
vention. The carrying into effect of an eff
Gent system of quarantine contemplates a
| central authority, so organized as to gain
strength from and give strenth to State and
municipal health organizations, and the
report reeomm ends the establishment Of an
advisory board of health, to be composed
of men eminent in sanitary matters, who,
together with the chief officer of the Health
Department, shall frame all needful rules
and regulations for carrying into effect,
subject to the approval of the President,
such national public health laws as may be
enacted.
The Board dwell at considerable length
upon the origin, cause and distinctive fea-
lures OF yellow fever, and say that it is a
| specific disease and is produced By the in
PRODUCTION into the human organism of a
| specific poison. The specific poison OF yell
low fever has never been chemically or NIL
croscopically demonstrated, nor IN any way
made evident to the human senses. Never
theless, we hold that it is safe to assume
+, that it is material and participate. and en-
| dowed with the ordinary properties aud
subject to the ordinary laws OF material
| substances.