Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-05


| aed and relieved OF infection. :. TO accom-
plish this object establishments should be pro
vided on uniRhabited ISLANDS. suInisnsIy, r.
| mote from the mainland 70 prevent all possible
standardization Of infection TO adjacent COM
| n,unifies and equipped with every appliances
necessary for the treatment or the sick, Ior
| the care Of the web. and for the purinca-
ton Of the cargo and vessel Il was
hsIiaved that II A sufficient number OF these
| thoroughly equipped stations were PROVIDED:
50 that every Infected vessel bound 20 a port Q.
the United States could be thoroughly purified
before it approached the MAINLAND the pqr-
poses Of Congress would be fulfilled. ana
most important addition would be made TO our
national defenses against the importation OF
foreign peStilences. Three statonS were sc.
cordingly st once undertaken. and located az
points where they were deemed most user9i
and Immediately necessary. viz: at Ship Island,
on the Gulf Coast; at Sspelo sound. BLACK,
beard Island, on the South Atlantic Coast: and
at Norfolk, Virginia. The Nauonal board
proposed to provide at each station the Hollow
!. Pisces for boarding, OBTAINING. cleansing
and disinfecting vessels.
2 Quarters for passengers and crews OF IN
fected vessels who are not sick.
3 Hospital accommodations for the SICK
1 Wharf warehouses and fumigating
house. for receiving, storing and fumigating
s such medical attendance and supervision
as is necessary for securing the examination
of the vessel, its cargo, passengers and crew,
and for such cleansing and disinfection as may
be necessary.
6 Boats. apparatus. etc, for the proper ad-
ministration of the station.
Z. Quarters for the officers and men.
s Burial ground
The administration of these refuge stations
is devoted exclusively TO the sanitary
care Of such vessels, their cargoes, pas
them en- voyage. or are sent to them
| by the health officers OF the neighbor-
| ing coast quarantine stations. They are In no
sense boarding stations to intercept incoming
cfr-nFv aF- lcff he
| longs exclusively to the State or local quaran-
tines OF the vicinity and the refuge stations in
| no wise interfere with or supersede these
establishments. Nor does the admins
any compulsory power over even
infected vessels entering the coast guarantees
Inc latter may. II they choose. retain injected
vessels and require them to perform such acts
OF purincation as they may direct. The refuge
| is simply the national authority ready 70 CO.
operate with the State or local authorities
to prevent the introduction Of contagious or
infectious diseases into the United States by
thoroughly purifying infected vessels
Viewed from the standpoint OF experience
and OF sanitary knowledge, there can be no
doubt that the State and local quara ntines Of
this country can be made far more effective ~
the establishment and maintenance OF suita-
bic number Of properly located refuge stations
to which infected vessels must resort for
thorough publication before they are allowed
to come into the harbors OF the coast Nor
could there be the slightest conflict OF authori-
y
perform the same functions as at present,
only recognizing the refuge as the place where
infected vessels must perform quarantine on
their own order, while the refuge would De de-
voted to the proper publication OF the vessels
sent to It, and certifieatiOn OF their immunity
from infection. Nor will this addition to onr
merce when fully developed and administered
| in good faith by all parties. II, for example.
| refuge stations were located at Galveston,
Ship Island, Key West. sspelo. Norfolk, the
Boston, the coast would be well
provided with these establishments
Infected vessels coming from foreign ports
would go to such a station en- route. and
undergo the necessary publication before at
tempting to enter any port. Such vessels would
thereby undergo far less delay than at present
owing to the rapidity with which they would
be cleansed.
The plan Of refuge stations at convenient
distances from local ports, now a part OF our
quarantine system. is not altogether new. The
same principle enters into the quarantine sys-
TEN Of Great Britain. The coast Is divided into
convenient sections, and q general quarantine
Is prescribed for each For example, vessels
arriving from certain ports and bound to the
ports OF London, Rochester, FaYershsm and
any creeks or places belonging TO or within any
or either Of the above ports shall perform
quarantine ia Standgate creek. Again, such
OF them as shall be bound TO the ports of-t5O
in number are mentioned by namel-shan per
form quarantine in Whitebooth Roads, between
Hull and Grimsby. In this manner all the ports
OF the Kingdom are grouped, anu q given plac6
is designated where all vessels liable to quar-
antine and bound to one Of the ports In the
group must resort before attempting to enter
the port OF destination. Not only no hardship
results to commerce and travel from this sys-
TEN, but it is the united testimony or masters
and owners Of vessels that the system greatly
aids them in business.
U-co OPERATION OF NATIONAL WITH STATE AND
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES.
Congress not only provided tor national CO.
quarantine establishments, but added the fol-
'sThe National Board Of Health shall co oper-
ate with, and so far as it lawfully may. aid
State and municipal boards OF health in the
execution and enforcement Of the rules and
regulations of such boards to prevent the in
PRODUCTION Of contagious and infectious dis
eases into the United States from foreign
Countries (Sec. 2 law OF June 2 1871
This Is a wise provision and, properly carried
out, capable of efecting important results.
There are many small seaport towns that are
very liable to be visited by vessels infected
with yellow fever but which have not the
means necessary to make suitable provision
for the inspection or care OF such vessels. A
very small amount Of aid to ouch ports at crti-
cal times has the effect Of preventing the in
PRODUCTION OF yellow fever into the country.
vu-ABsENcE OF QUARANTINE AND INADEQUATE
QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.
Finally, there remained two possible contin-
gencies that might require the national authori-
LF
One was the possible failure Of the State to
create and maintain quarantine at some i'm
portant port; and the other was the possible
defects in the regulations of quarantine.
To meet these contingencies Congress provides
as follows:
cat such ports and places within the United
States as have no quarantine regulations under
State authority where such regulations are, in
the opinion of the National Board OF Health,
necessary to prevent the introduction OF con-
tagious and infectious diseases into the United
States from foreign countries, or into one State
from another; and at such ports and places
within the United States where quarantine
regulations exist under the authority of the
state, which 10 the opinion of the National
Board of Health ara not sufficient to prevent
the introduction of such diseases into the Uni |
ted States. or into one State from another. the
National Board OK Health shall report the facts
to the President OF the United States, who
SHALL il in his judgment 1t is necessary and
proper, order said Board of Health
to make such additional rules and
introduction of such diseases into the United
States from foreign countries, or into one
State from another, which when so made and
approved by the President shall be promulgat-
ed by the National Board Of Health and en-
forced by the sanitary authorities of The
States where the State authorities will under |
take to execute and enforce them; but if the
State authorities shall fail or refuse to enforce
said rules and regulations the President may |
detail an officer or appoint proper person for |
that purpose" Gee. 3, Act June 2, 1879.
Board of Health is vigilant, there can be no |
failure to maintain an unbroken and efficient |
chain OF quarantine posts the entire length of |
our M ritime coast
IT, in conclusion, we group the several |
branchts of this system of maritime sanitary |
service with view to distribute the functions |
of the national and State authorities, we shall |
have the following exhibit:
l. The national authority is required to |
secure:-
(a) international sanitary cooperation
I nd dief of -
tary information.
(c) The preparation of maritime sanitary |
regulations.
a. The enforcement of maritime sanitary |
inspection IL foreign ports
(e.) The erection and maintenance Of refuge |
stations.
% The aid of State authorities.
o. The organization Of guarantees where |
none exist.
h } The power to add necessary rules to any |
deficient quarantine.
2 The State authority is required to secure: |
a. The organization and maintenance of |
efficient quarantine service at ports within the /