Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-09
SMALLPOX.
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH APPEAL
10 THE GOVERNOR
For the Exercise Of Extraordinary Powers
He Goasents-ku Trains to be IN
spacted at the State Line.

The following correspondence, now on file
at the Capitol, explains itself. 1t will be
fouud to be of the highest Importance:
To His Excellency, George G. Perkins,
Governor of Califernia-Dear Sir: After
consultation with DR.. H. Gibbons, Sr., Presi-
dent of the State Board of Health, and Dr..
w r. Cluness, a member of said Board, and
also with the members of the City Board of
Health Of Sacramento, and in accordance
with tbe expressed views of these several
gentlemen, 1t becomes my duty, as the ex-
ecutiye officer of the former Board TO ask the
interposition Of the aid Of the State authori-
ties in the enforcement Of measures deemed
necessary for the public health.
It is known that cases Of smallpox have
very recently been introduced into the State
by immigrants from Chicago upon the cars Of
the Central Pacific Railroad. Already four
counties have suffered more or less from this
cause, and from the prevalence of the disease
il that and other Eastern cities, and the ex-
i5ting facility of its introduction here, aided
by what is believed to be present atmoE-
pherie condition favorable to its diffusion,
there seems to be good reason for the adoption
OF stringent measures for its further exclu-
sion from the State. In one of the counties
alluded to the disease has already spread to
five families, within an area OF six or eight
miles; and although we can contend against
it where it now exists only by the adoption
of the ordinary means which hygiene teaches,
we learn from the facts alluded to the
wisdom, not to say imperative necessity, OF
using every precaution within our power
against its continued introduction.
Unfortunately, we have no statute IN this
State providing for State quarantine against
fha lv
the subject relating to the quarantine OF YES
sells arriving in the harbor Of San francisco,
The State Board of Health are, therefore,
powerless to act efficiently in an emergency
such as has now arisen, but are compelled TO
RELY upon the slow, uncertain and, &C the best,
inadeouate provisions of local laws (See
Sections 1850 and 3045 of tho Political Code }
Under these circumstances there seems to be
a reasonable demand for the exercise of extra
ordinary powers by the State Executive.
The State Board of Health. or the mem.
hers present at the special session held few
days ago, carefully considered this subject
aud authorizs me to present the following re-
Elections:
The only efficient system of quarantine
would be to detain at or near the State line
all immigrants from Chicago or other infected
cities until after the expiration of the usual in
cnbative period of the disease, dating from the
time Of their departure from the infected
city. This would be a severe measure, which
should only be rssorted to upon the most
urgent necessity.
On the other hand. if only those who pre-
sentsd the actual manifestations OF the dis.
ease, and the cars in which they were passen-
gers, were quarantined, there would still be
the risk Of others being taken sick after their
arrival at their destination, and thus spread.
ing the disease.
Under the circumstances now existing,
however, and with the desire to afford rea-
sonabls security and at the same time TO
subject the passengers and the railroad COM
pany to the minimum OF inconvenience
required for the public safety, 1 am author
izs1 to recommend that an inspection OF all
immigrant trains be ordered on their arrival
at Truckee or some point nearer the State
line that ii any persons be discovered who
present evidences of having contracted
vsriola, they and the car or cars of which
they are passengers be qusrantined until the
stages of the disease have been accomplished
or other suitable provision be made for the dis
posal Of the sick that the cars be then disin-
fected under the direction of the inspector !;
that a system of compulsory vaccination be
adopted for sll other passengers upon infected
cars, the same to be performed gratuitously.
prior to their departure from the place of
inspection, with lymph to be provided BY the
State Board OF Health; and that q +" clean
bill of health be thereupon given to the
conductor of the train.
1t should be made the duty of the iu-
spector to keep record of proceedings under
this order; the number of cars and passea-
gers quarantined. the disposition made of
them, and the number of persons vsccinated,
and report the same to the State Board of
Health
The above is an outline Of what should be
done, requiring only more specific instruc-
tons for its accomplishment by the officer
intrusted with the duty.
The impelfection of these measures arises
from the fact that passengers not yet sick
far advanced in the stage of incubation Of the
disease that vaccination may fail to prevent
the future development OF the disease. The
time of travel upon immigrant trains between
Chicago and Truckee is about nine days,
whereas the Incubation stage Of smallpox is
twelve days Admitting the fact that vacci-
nation, successfully performed, Will be likely,
by virtue of its shorter incubative period, to
supersede small-pox-to get ahead Of tive
have only three days in which this benefcent
result is to be effected. But the protective
certain development of the local disease has
been reached-that stage which is observed on
the ninth day. 1t woald be too late, there
fore, for vaccination performed more than
three or four days after the commencement of
the incubative stage Of smallpox in an indi.
viiual to be OF any utility-eertainly too
late for one who had received the scontagion
of smallpox before leaving Chicago, for ex-
ample, to derive any benefit from the oper-
alton performed after his arrival at the Cali
fornia State line. But it is quite improbable
IL 4 tt,I 70, Ab,
cars at Chicago, or any other city, actually
sick with smallpox. The disease would be
most likely to develop itself on the trip,
several days probably after entering the cara,
as is known TO have been the case quite
recently. Hence there would in all proba-
bility be ample time for the success of vscci-
nation to be secured by its performance after
arrival at the State line. "H," says one
of the highest authorities on vaccination,
"there were only means of ascertaining
whether person exposed to smallpox infec-
tion had actually received it, and, if so, at
what moment this had taken place, we should
know exactly whether it were worth while
to vaccinate or not but as no such means
exist, the obvious rule of practice is 10 assume
that the poison has not been inhaled, or has
been only recently inhaled, and to give our
patient chance"
Il will be seen, therefore, that even under
tae quarantine system proposed individuals
are liable to import disease into the State !;
but it is believed that, if faithfully and rigidly
observed, it will very materially diminish the
risk.
Reference has been made mainly to emf
grant cars. Th5 same reasons apply, though
less urgently, to the express trains, and sn
inspection of these also would be desirable.
1 am pleased to be able to add that the
officers Of the Central Pacific Railroad have
promised to cooperate with the health au-
thor;ties in carrying out the sanitary regula-
tions which msy be adopted. Very truly,
yours, +. w. HATCH, NJ. D.,
Secretary State Board of Health.
Sacramento, November z, 1881.
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
SACRAMENTO, November s, 1881.
f. W. Hatch. Esq, NJ. D., Secretary State
Board of Health-Dear Sir: | have the
honor to acknowledge receipt Of your very
able report, as the Executive Officer of the
Ct,4, Il,ard rs Haalth reIativa tn tha en-