Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-22
BEGINNING IN TINE.
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY SAM.
TARY COUNCIL.
Hts Proceedings at Evansville-The
Measures 1t Proposes for the Pre-
servatiOn of Public Health-Text
of the Special Committees Report.

EVANSVILLE, IND, April 2l.-The first
meeting of the session of 1881 of the SAM.
tary Council of the Mississippi Valley was
held at Evans Hall, In this city, Yesterday
morning. The following topics were pre-.
sented for discussion: First. A representa-
tive of the National Board to reside at the
quarantine station on the Mississippi,
river; also a representative to reside
in New Orleans, with the privilege
of access to the records of the State Board
of Health and to attend their meetings.
Second. The arrangements of the work of
inspection on railroads and steamboats,. in
spection of the mouth of the river
and, and the ordering ordering OF infected
Means Of informing the Board of
Health In the valley OF danger or aOpre
hended danger. Fourth To secure CON
cert of action If yellow fever or other IN
fictitious disease appear or threaten to
spread, and in the classification of freights
for quarantine purposes. DR.. Solomon, of
New Orleans, read the resolution of the
Louisiana Board of Health, which was
adopted last Thursday. 1t requires that the
agent of the National Board or Health shall
have access to vessels arriving, in common
with the quarantine officers; that any doubt
ful or suspicious cases may be reported
to him in order that they may be reported
to the association, and that where differ
ences OF opinion arise they shall be sub
mitted to arbitration, the result of which
shall be reported. The adoption of this
resolution would produce more harmony be-
tween the National and State boards than
has hitherto existed. A fifth topic was dis
cussed at the afternoon session.
The commission was formally welcomed
at Evans Hall this evening by Mayor Bud
well on behalf of the citizens, and by Judge
Asa Iglehart on behalf of the State of In
diana. The chief question of general in
terest discussed yesterday relates to
the class of articles which might
be transported during epidemics.
The committee having this subject under
consideration recommended the exclusion
OF all closed boxes and the use of barges
and boat hulls. Dr. Mitchell, of Memphis,
however, asked for the opinion of represen-
tatives of railroad and river interests. Cap
tain O'Neill, of the st. Louis Anchor Line,
said in his practical experience in the trans
portatlon OF freight the only danger from
epidemics was from enclosed bulls and
bilge water. Disease is transferred from
gulf vessels to river craft, but from ex-
pressed merchandise no trouble had ever
been experienced. There were a
few articles on the list exempted
by the committee such as jute,
rags in bales and similar articles to which
he would object. He thought importations
from uninfected vessels to river craft equally
pure should not be obstructed.
The session will close to day with grand
ball aud banquet given by the citizens.
The report of the Committee of Eleven of
the Mississippi Valley Sanitary Council was
submitted to-day and covers the work of
council now in session. The committee
offer for action the following resolutions as
embodying the views of the committee:
l. ReSOtVed, That the Sanitary Council
of the Mississippi Valley resffirms the ac-
tion had at its meeting in December, 1880,
in New Orleans, aud demands that the Lou
isiana State Board of Health invite the ap-
pointment and maintenance by the National
Beard of Health of inspectors at New Or
leans, at Port EadS and at the Mississippi
quarantine stations, and announces that in
the event of any failure on the part of the
said State Board of Health of Louisiana to-
wards said inspectors, then the boards of
health represented in the council will be
compelled to take into their own hands the
protection of the health of their own people,
2 RESOLVED, That the inspection service of
river and rail transportation by the National
Board Of Health is hereby endorsed, and its
establishment for the ensuing season is
uIS0u VIII d COupdcb Ou Ueudu OIL GQ6 rep
resentatives in this council; that the Ger
tifcates and bills of health issued by the
said inspection service shall be accepted as
p1'inlG tdcie evidence Of the sanitary state of
the vessels and trains presenting the same.
8. Resolged, That this council, being firmly
convinced that the safety of New Orleans, as
well as of the valley, lies in the rigid ex-
clusiOn of infected ships from the lower
Mississippi, strenuously urges upon the
State Board of Health OF modification OF
section of its rules and regulations for the
government of quarantine officers and sta
tions, etc, so as to read:
'SECTIoN 6. All vessels from ports In
which yellow fever is prevailing, or from
ports where contagious or infectious dis
eases are reported TO exist, shall be in
spected at Port Eads. If any such
be found to be infected or to furnish reason
able ground for suspicion of infection,
such vessels shall not be allowed to pass
Port Eads northward, except upon presenta-
tion of a certificate from the inspector of |
the National Board of Health at Ship Island
quarantine station, setting forth that The
vessel has been subjected to proper treat
ment and is free from liability of conveying
contagion."
4. Resolved, That in the judgment of this
council the quarantine of a vessel and its
freights should consist of the publication Of
the vessel and its contents, which should |
then be returned to commerce as speedily
as practicable, and that any sanitary deten-
tion beyond the time necessary for such pu-
is not only unnecessary, but posi-
lively increases the danger of propagation
and spreading of infections.
5. Resolved, That this council condemns
all methods of suppression and secrecy
with reference to information of contagious
or infectious diseases, and, therefore, dis
the use of cipher kilograms;
but in the event of danger from such
diseases at any point In the Mississippi
valley 1t is the duty of the executive officers
of the health association of such places to
fully and promptly advise the proper au-
thorities at all threatening points.
Signed j. B. PLUNKETT, Tennessee,
D. H. DUNCAN, Arkansas,
j. j. SPEED, Kentucky,
G. w. FooTE, Illinois,
D. B. HOLLIS, Iowa,
E. II. G. JONES, Indiana,
A. ]. NILES, Ohio,
j. NJ. TARBELL, Florida,
F. G. BIRCHETT, Mississippi,
L. F. SOLOMON, Louisiana,
K. G. KEBIzIE, Michigan,
Committee.
Brief Telegraphic Summary.
The steamer Mispah, from Liverpool for
Copenhagen, has gone ashore on the Skaw. |
Eleven persons were drowned.
The correspondent of the London Times /