The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02
Washington Post.


When the bills relating to public health
were reported In Congress yesterday, o Post
reporter was dispatched to interview Surgeon
General Woodwork, of the marine hospital
service. upon the subject.
"What Is the prospect OF securing public
health legislation ut this session of Con-
gressY said the Post, as 1t planted itself
before that gentleman.
"The Senate bill, which provides for bu-
reau of health, will doubtless pass the Senate
with very little opposition, but when 1t
reaches the House 1t seems probable that all
but the title will be stricken out and the
House bill substituted"
"How does the Senate bill differ from the
House hillr'
"The Senate bill provides for bureau Of
health, to include the marine hospital service
and ths quarantine and public health laws
which nov devolve upon the surgeon general
OF that service, and, In addition, makes pro-
vision for the sanitary supervision of com
merce between the States In time of epidemic,
| 1t also creates an advisory board OF health,
which Is to prepare all regulations to be en-
| forced by the director general OF health. The
present law directs that the surgeon general
| of the marine hospital service shall prepare
| the quarantine regulations, which is too great
| responsibility to place upon one person
| The bill also provides that the office of gem
| eral of the marine hospital service be abol-
ished. This provision grew out OF my own
suggestion based upon a belief that an addi-
tional bureau would not meet with favor at
this time and. as most of the machinery
already existed In the marine hospital service
for the execution Of public health act, felt
willing to suggest being legislated out of
office In the interest OF public health The
House bill provides for an additional bureau
In the Treasury Department, to consist Of
board of nine directors, as an executive body.
The duties Of the board are nearly the same
as provided by the Senate bill"
"Does not the House bill provide that the
surgeon general OF the marine hospital serv-
Ice should be member of this board of
health p
at does not: but the surgeon generals Of
the army and navy are to be ex-oificio men,
bers.'
"What is the occasion of the opposition to
public health legislation"
1t comes from two sources; First, the
American Public Health Association; and,
second, the suppositon that somehow the
rights of the State will suffer If the country
Is protected by the general government
against the importation of epidemic dis
eases"
How does 1t happen that the American
Public Health Association Is opposed TO q
public health measure n
strangely enough, the executive commit
tee OF the association has issued q memo
randum In references to public health legsla-
ton, In which 1t Is arrogated that Congress
has not sufficient information to enable 1t to
formulate any system OF quarantine which
might not do more harm than good; that I'M
I'll IUfJheE investigation has Dpeu HlHub VIII
regard to national quarantine, 1t will be in
expedient and unwise either to provide new
law or to amend or enforce the present one.
It recommends that n commission to investi-
gate this subject should be composed of per-
sons with whom all scientific and profess
sional men of the country will be glad to CO.
operate and advise, and whose opinions will
command the respect of all well educated
men; that such persons are not common.
etc
ia toip nj not ont
to the yellow fever com mission and the board
of eyperts?" interpolated the Post.
mo. sir, II is not. The first you mentioned
were selected by myself with the approval
OF the American Public Health Association,
who refused to sign the memorandum, and
the latter by the congressional committees
The House bill,' continued the doctor, PRO
vides that the Academy of Sciences shall co
operate with the board OF health to perfect the
national health organization. Now, the Ma
tional Academy Is composed Of eminent scien-
ttic men, devoted to astronomy, geology en-
tomology and kindred subjects, certainly not
more than two or three OF the present MEM
bership can be said TO be sanitarans In any
sense"
"Wil national quarantine interfere with
the State or municipal quarantinesY
mot ut all. 1t would seem that the gen
eral government has the right to enforce
proper sanitary measures in respect to per
Sous, baggage and vessels. on arrival OF yes
| sells outside of any port, for the purpose OF
| protecting the country at large from inva-
sion by disease, and 1t would seem, also, that
| the States have an equal right to protect
| their borders from such invasion. The OBJ
| ject Ii protection to the VIII le country At
many ports the State or municipal quaran-
| tines are well equipped and efficient, but ~ y
majority of the South Atlantic and Gulf
| ports the guarantees are Of observation or
| detention only. and not Of sanitation. because
| there are no facilities for cleansing baggage
or cargoes and properly disinfectng ships