New-York tribune., 1879-01-31
A REPORT on YELLOW FEVER.

NATIONAL QCARhN1INE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The experts author
zcd by Congress investigate the yellow fever epidemic
o. ISIS submitted their report Joint Congress
iona. Committee at its meeting this morning
TGc Experts say that their conclusions based upon
unnecessarily incomplete investigation Of the epidemic
--iuclrctc because OF the urgent demand for public
hr legislation during the present session OF Congress
Oh, s the board might not be held cXcu-abe for the
haste IN dealing with the subject TIE board Is
lluiious in the opinion that the investigation should
1e completed II II accordingly recommended that two
three skilled Experts De charged with the completion
t study thc hje epidemic, which be concluded
~ f.w months. and tha at least Two such exp rts De
authorized to proceed the West Indies, there maxi
thorough study OF the disease than has yet
been undertaken. and that they be accompanied by
.cr.enced microscopic. IL is further recommended
tDr steps be taken by Congress to secure
TIE cooperation Of the Spanish aud other foreign Gov
/ ehmcGt,, through an International commission or
/ otherwise.
Ia object aimed 1t in the report ia to present the ont
u,, OF a system Of quarantine which may afford the
Greatest atainabic degree protection against the IN
iioducou and spread Of infectious epidemic diseases
and 20 the same lime iuict Ouiy mini mum OF injury
ana urouy upon commerce. Two classes of med
Il4 plc.r, are suggested: Frst-MedcIl officers o.
.ea 30 sciye in foreign ports from which this country
receives impur atons OF yellow eycr and cholera sec
Ond-ToGca officers Of ncalth to have charge Of quar-
antmr .taJions and TO supervise Interstate travel and
tr.e from infected places IN times Of epidemic. The
twO Glasses cons drrGd Indispensable t. any method
ot Iu aEulo ~hcn toes not involve complete susPen-
zion Int re,Irse with infected ports The board
eIded It 20 bc especially important mat the selection
OF these officers should be mad" from men skilled m
medicine ami sanitary The OF mod
hcd quarantine scheme depend, almost entirely upon
rho competency aud ddchty Of medical officers.
On. o the diiculteS WMcn has confronted the board
farift fhp of Of
definite know edge respecting the duration Of life or the
vru,ence Of posOn5 OF yellow fever and cholera II i
known tnat the poison Of neither 5 sScep ibe OF
long vitality exposed IN" open but II is not
yet determined how long ts infections properties may
hr preserved in closcy shut chambers, or in conpart
fcuts of vessels when confined IN the folds of cloth
my or goods IL consequently follows thai ships
tsuccdy dangerous carriers Of tac diseases, and also
tha thry remain Of Infection for months after
Ga}ilg been infected with the poison.
# ia deemed of great importance that De
ptJv ted by Congress for obtaining trustworthy infor
atnu by telegraph IN respect the outbreak pro-
c!s- O. no. -ra yellow fever and other epidemic Ills,
eases all parts of the world. and the departure Of
..,ls Z ln infected ports bourd FOR ports IN the United
At,. The diffusion al Trustworthy IN. Ounaton
among 'hc people respecting existence and progros,
60 I.v,utahc diseases ~ home and abroad should be-
.ucouraeed. tending avert the evils Of panic. aud
me ,r,n INTO fleet og an efficient system of mar
,,.,,t and au ADVISORY Board o. H.lib TO be- com
poe. ui mru eminent in rrutary matters. Nu0 10
rr nip ';lo ch.f officer ~ ~" Health D. pa!lm,ut.
-ipt 'riWr ul Hcri iu I r> ana r"Lu .lCUE Tor cary
ne ptn effect. jccr 10 the aTlroNaIot President.
eil NHiuIti publ ice hcalfl ilv, ~ .ay nr ctart,d.
TIr roara dVcl.s at oon-dcrabl" lr eth ihc ouu.
cause nj Distinctive features "f yellow ry r. ana
ti- .rec tic disease and Is produce 10y Lr mtroduc-
/ uor w the human organism Of specific po',on. Tnr
sprrh' p"S'h "t N'HoW l'N'F ui~ h'ti h''h micro
scorcy uor chemically drinom-irt'r, nor ~ auy way
uadr cYid"u 10 the human Scust>. Nevertheless, tnt
board E"idNIU" l+'lt "S>"ln- 'p Us hit'tLtl ind
plrticuatc ana endowed with The ordinary properties
and suO'rc- 10 the ordinary lagS ~ m"trr'a substances
ti dl- rug OF That marsh uitsm "lyu Produces pil-
d,. ar periodic lever ahd th- b'ad @H1N oi 70 itc,
which warrant The conclusion that m Idri1l Influences
,"rjributr toward the dissemination and mortality ot
inan they coutr butte toward the dissemination ard
taIty "i other ritchic dis"aerS Ia all toe countries
II. yrO" fever Is an exotic dio's", ana ia a o Them
u. iarodUc ion can De traced either directly or udl
frcrly 20 the West Inic,. In OF item to
have established Itself permanently aud To have become
! cud,inc IS for example IN The BrqHis. In mo-t ~
thru hes ioj!cd If naturalization and sicc' slye ep-
/ lu'uI.a can oc Traced - successive mloriA.lJuS.
o the United states. according 10 the tct nUny q" eX
l,tihr records ~ tghiI cant 1inerehl years FOR stF-
deucc .rss comp ete of Importation: and in
,cy,n' -ouc of these seveut-seyen the evidence
Four t.ilc.-i,nltiv IN ls39 leli I~l7 ard Ie67-he
Inoru0n nas b,"n traced 10 Mexico but "a 1867 II was
also traced to the West Indies. IL rs sad that III 1900
int IN le;i> IN. disease brought from j. marara,
hIr ~ 800 10 also brought from the west Iulrs.
Inc .eyrroi 1870 Is attributed TO Honduras Every cp.
hInl of yellow rover tuat has occurred IL thc Lmcd
!
cic.,a prevalence Of ne disease in countries to the
of IT, with nich at the tine were In CONNER
/ Ci.ii communication.
! rrc tu.ioWiig scheme 4 quarantine, constructed
| fr"1n pueb medical Standpolnt. l~ recommended
Inc Hcncmc cont npae, iwo Glasses 81 medical officers
one class for tac - aud one class 'or home
htyoc N,icGi oiire"S Of health tur foreign service
should ne stationed at foreign pores. lhrr dulles
rhoi I've to acqnant themselves Thoroughly with al
hc"7' G-ii 10 Or at any ue prevalent Ia or around
me ci.N" places 10 which rhry are assigned They
fever or other cplrmc diseases and ,f The dcrartlr
Bl vessel
pi'd '.uhN or s"rds rpm injected ports 10 br com
niunicdied iJ Telegraph or the expeditions
10 ih" chl'I la ia authority ~ Washington. II should
bc tE'l i hE adE 10 obtain tho Ia dcu history OF
All N' Ii''Ihg IL or nom their respective ports ~
PaId ~ any previous occurrence of yellow fever
oho'eia or otncr infectious eplicmic disease
mio IHation ot IN" said ucallh authority.
A. /" ,he ciiai duhnulIOn o NATIONAL wealth by the
late rd"" u ~ stated that at least Is 600 (nd prob
ajh aS uIdly as 10000 deaths from yellow fever
chiIcd Ci THIS numhcr thrcc-tlths minors ana
tN"-Hlths were adults, representing loss II GOO
900. !! Il believed that al least 10000 OF sick
Less from ltlo" fever took pace durIug the
lcu0u The ioe. of limo Of patients was public
los. and snoud be c0nsIdetcd IN computation on
subject lhc average duration Of their lncss and
conNcsctucc Is not far from twenty-five day aud
yu. 81 thrir time may be put AZ 30 cents day. 1hls
Iten would amount 10 ~ 100000. TO tins sum should
b added the value of the labor diverted from production
sous Tor ten DAYS each at 80 cents Der lav 5000 6Oo
Ine able rstate total us~cs
cpIHtty, hut tHcy have bccu yaruusly estimated
by othcts al Gums ranging from SlOOOOOOO0 ~ $780,
! OOo,OOO
VIA. the exception of Dr. Ious \. Falligant the
board voted unanimously ON the above propositions.
That gentleman says: "N llS indUrsIng fully The
| ccssiy 81 weillrgulated quarantine To protect
people his country against exposure 10 the mpora-
spread Of similar dseahCs III Our own midst hold the
view yellow fever be developed by Indigenous
aH well ~ nv imported poison. | cannot overlook the
faci that whilst hre Will explode powder the hre
be- prUrced IN locality by electricity in auOther by
the collision OF flint and steel, and Ia st another by
stnku2 match"