Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-03


not conclusive.
HOW TRANSMITTED.
Yellow fever is transmitted across
seas and oceans in steamships and sail
ing vessels, and the infection may be
connected with the vessels themselves
or the cargoes, or with the crews and
passengers. Ordinary merchandise in
original or unbroken packages may
become infected and lead to outbreaks
of yellow fever, but for obvious rea-
sons it is much less likely TO prove
dangerous than bedding and wearing
apparel. Packages Of this class may
become infected from having been
stored in an infected house, or from
having been shipped in an infected
vessel.
After briefly treating cholera the
report says;
Every epidemic of cholera in the
United States has followed as a Sc
quence to its epidemic prevalence in
Europe and India.
MEANS or 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 o8 the introduction of yell
low lever and cholera into the United
States appears the following
The legal enactments Of various
countries in respect to the sanitary
management of ships and the sanitary
memoranda from time to tine distrib-
uted for the guidance of owners and
masters of ships have all failed in ac-
complishing the great end of making
them healthy. They still performed
the unenyiable role of carriers of pes
thence. We therefore find that the
recommendations most worthy of con
idence include-frst, the surveillance
of ships at the time of sailing from
infected ports to any port of the
United States; second, their inspec-
ton, detention and disinfection when
found necessary upon reaching our
coast.
QUARANTINE RECOMMENDED.
The following scheme of quaran-
tine, constructed from a purely medi-
cal standpoint, is recommended {:
This scheme contemplates two classes
of medical officers one class for
foreign service and one class for home
service. Medical officers of health
for foreign service should be sta
toned at the various foreign ports
having commercial relations with the
United States where yellow fever,
cholera or other epidemic infectious
diseases prevail. Their duties should
be to acquaint themselves thoroughly
with all diseases usual to, or at any
time prevalent, in or around the re-
spective places to which they are as
signed, and to make a chief health
authority at Washington the same re-
ports as are now required of consular
officers by section 2 of the national
quarantine act. approved April %,
1873. They should forward reports
of outbreaks of cholera, yellow fever
or other epidemic diseases, and of the
departure of vessels from infected
ports or Of vessels having on board
persons or goods from infected ports.
to be communicated by telegraph or
the most expeditions manner to a chief
health authority at Washington. it
should be their further duty to obtain
the medical history of all ships trad
ing to or from their respective ports
in regard to any previous occurrence
of yellow fever or cholera or other in
fectiOus epidemic disease on board.
and transmit the same for the infor-
nation of said health authority.
REQUIRED SANITARY CONDITION.
lnsanitary situations or modes of
living deteriorate human health and
strength and thus diminish the power
of resisting the invasion of disease.
Il therefore follows that the most per-
feet local sanitary conditions attain
able should be established and uni
formly maintained in our cities and
towns and their surroundings. Filth
should not be allowed to accumulate.
nor should the sanitary reform be de-
ferred until yellow fever has made its
appearance,
There is much testimony showing
that the efluvium which emanates
from the bodies of the dead may be
associated with infection. 1t is there
fore recommended that the bodies of
persons who die of yellow fever be
promptly buried, and that the assem-
bling of persons at funerals be dis
couraged. No drugs are known which
can be relied upon as p~reventives Of
yellow fever or cholera. 1t should be
noted that the diarrhea, preliminary
to cholera, is amenable to treatment,
consequently when cholera is preya-
lent persons should be instructed to
apply for treatment or advice in refer
ence to this symptom.
Atmospheric air is an efficient as
well as a generally applicable disin.
fecting agent, both as respects yellow
fever and cholera. The apartments oil
the sick should therefore be freely
ventilated.
DIMINUTToN OF NATIONAL WEALTH
AT least $4,000 land probably a,
many as 10000 deaths from yellow
fever have occurred during the lat,
epidemic. Of this number som,
three-ffths were minors and two-ffh,
were adults, representing a loss o
Sl2,GOO, 900, according to the basis O
valuation already mentioned. 1t i
believed that at least 10000 cases 0
sickness from yellow fever took plac,
during the same period. The loss 0
time of these patients was a publ,
loss, and should be considered in an,
computation on the subject. Tn,
average duration of their illness an,
convalescence is not far from % DAYS
and the value of their time may be pu
at fftv cents a dov The ;tom uonI,