The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-20
THE NATIONAL BOARD or HEALTH AND THE
STATE BOARDS.

Darcy Irvine.
THE NATIONAL BOARD or HEALTH AND THE
STATE BOARDS.
WAsHISGroN, July 10, 1879.
Upon inquiry at the rooms of the National Board
of Health this evening regarding the rigid quaran-
tine declared against New Orleans by Galveston. it
was stated by Secretary Turner that a request
ceived by the Treasury Department for the placing
of customs officer outside of the city Of Galveston
had cen referred to the Board. but they contend
that they have jurisdiction in the matter of Gal
vestons quarantine in consequence of the
ceptance by Texas of the rules and regulations pre-
scribed by the Board. The Health Officer of Texas,
they say. does not approve OF the course being pur
sued by Galveston.
toned Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and
New Jersey. The rules have been forwarded to the
necessary, speedy execution of the provision in
the act of June 1872 requiring the National Board
or Health "to cooperate with, aud far 1t law
fully may. aid State and municipal boards of health
in the execution and enforcement of the rules and
regulations of such boards to prevent the introduce
ton OF contagious and infectious diseases into the
United States from foreign countries and from
State into another"
The phraseology of the rule follows:-
FTa-All communications to this Board pertinent to the
made by state or municipal boards Of health and
coni--such comnunicAt should present tho SUBJ
exercise discretion as to the enpedsney of eooperntnS
aiding thereof specifying among other things The
Of any officers the appointment or payment of whom
quested
tho adoption by tuch State municipal board of any
and regulations that have been
tina. be Necessary S oT So
purpose In question
THE BOARD OF HEALTH SAY THAT NO ExTRAoR-
BINARY PRECAUTIONS ARE NECESSARY TO PRE-
SERVE NEW YORK FROM THE scoURGE OF THE
I'M
QUARANTINE,
In view of the news from Memphis bearing It'd
ngs of another yellow fever epidemic in that city,
and the consequent exodus of tho inhabitants,
HERALD reporter yesterday called on DR.. James, of
the Board of Health. to ascertain If any measures
had been devised for the protection of Now York
the arrival of the plague. either in luggage or
in the persons of sufferers by railroad. Dr. James in
reply to questions, said:--
III do not fear that the yellow fever shall trouble
much in this city. For several years past We
have had annually few cases. aud these we were
able to deal with in the usual way. have doubt
OH my own mind that whatever may occur this year
we will be able to grapple with it successfully"
cam to infer. them that the Board OF Health has
~ yet taken actionY
'The Board met last Tuesday. and will not meet
again until next Tuesday AS to what action, If any
shall then be taken much depends ON what may
transpire meantime in the Southern cities"
suppose that the yellow fever should spread still
more widely. and that the citizens of Memphis
should BIO obliged to take refuge in other cities-New
York among the rcst-what action would your de-
partment be likely to take to secure New York's
safety?'
''The disease will scarcely assume more extended
proportions in tho South this year than 1t did last
and then we protected ourselves here by the ordi-
nary means at our disposal"
what did you dog"
well, when victim OF the disease arrived here
We sent him TO Quarantine. as the law requires.
When got hold of baggage we sent 1t to our dis
injecting house. In Twenty-eighth street. where IL
was properly fumigated"
''How many cases had you in all last yoar?'
''lncluding the fumigations of baggage about
twelve. As ! have already said. for several years
past we have had few cases every year."
"How does 1t become known to your department
that your services needcd?'
''In case sufferer arrives here he or She of
course. sends for doctor. who promptly notifies
IL is almost impossible that yellow fever case
could long remain in . neighborhood without some