Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-26
raE NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH.

We have received copy OF the report of
the Senate Committee upon the Prevention of
Epidemic Diseases, of which Ex-Governor
Harris, of this State, is chairman. Az the
subject is one Of profound interest to Mem
phis we give the main features of the report.
The committee find that some of the most
important provisions Of the act OF Congress
npon the subject have proved imperative,
and the committee report the bill before it
with amendments, which it recommends for
adoption. Certain existing provisions can
not be enforced in foreign ports in respect to
bills of health, az in some of the ports most
dangerous to health the publication of our
rules and regulations is not permitted. 1t is
Therefore recommended that the rules pro-
mulgated by the Board of Health shall be
posted up in the Office of the United States
officer in charge at the spot, and that
all vessels for the United States shall
carry bill Of health, signed by our consul
or medical officer at the port. Such bill
of health is necessary as guide to the
United States quarantine officers on the
ship's arrival. No State or municipality
has power to prevent the introduction of
Contagion from abroad; their commercial
Interests also stand in the way of their
commanding the confidence of other States.
The bill and amendments are based upon the
power Of Congress to regulate commerce, and
are not intended to interfere with State or
municipal regulations. 1t proposes so TO
regulate commerce as to strip it of con-
fanrinn which hitherto has OF
The experience of the last three years gives
confidence in better things, and Congress has
many precedents for the action now recon-
mended. The bill recommended proposes
cooperation with local boards. Sixty-ive
times within the century yellow fever
has been imported into this country,
where neither fever nor cholera are
contagious. There were State and
municipal Boards of Health, but no
uniform and rigidly-applied rules of quar-
antine enforced without regard to local in
huences and interests. The experience of
1879 shows that with proper effort epidemics
can be confined within narrow limits, if not
stamped out entirely; but this requires
prompt action and more means than a local
board usually has at command. In 1878 the
fever at New Orleans, Memphis, Holly
Springs and Grenada was spread further by
fugitives, and, besides the fearful loss of life,
from $500, 100000 to $500, 600, 900 of property
was sacrificed. In 1879 the outbreak, under
the regulations adopted by the board, was
actually stamped out in New Orleans and
confined to the limits of Memphis, without
panic or suspension of business, and con-
fdence took the place of alarm through the
country. The experience of the country,
and the approval of the methods of the Ma
tional board by the transportation companies,
testify to the possibility of controlling
epidemics, and the certificate of the
National Board of Health as to the
sanitary condition of any city is accepted
as satisfactory authority to the advantage of
commerce. The national board, Gin the
opinion OF the committee, has accomplished
much of great benefit to the coun-
try, results which can be accomplished by
no other agency" Under the regulations of
the board number of ships infected with
yellow fever have been sent to their stations,
and, after treatment, allowed to proceed
without giving rise to single case of dis
ease. The country is now free from yellow
fever and cholera; shall we keep it so, or by
indifference await another importation OF
disease at the cost Of thousands of lives and
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