National Republican., 1882-12-01
NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Annual Report-Facin and Figures
About Great Epidemics.

The Annual Report-Facin and Figures
About Great Epidensics.
The annual report of the National Board of
Health for the fiscal year 1882, which has been
submitted TO the Secretary Of the Treasury, gives
a sketch Of the scope and character Of the miscel.
laneous investigations conducted under the au-
spices of the board during the year, and surveys
the history of legislation bearing on maritime
quarantine TO the present time, when, under the
provisions ofthe act of June q 1870 the board oper
stes not by quarantine powers vested in itself, but
by aiding State and municipal boards In the eNecu-
ton and enforcement OF their own Quarantine
rules ana regulations for the exclusion Of con-
tagious diseases OF exotic origin. As II was iul.
possible TO aid each of our small seapors, through
which disease might enter by the establishment
OF II complete quarantine station, certain points
were selected for general stations In aid of an eX-
tended line of coast, that infected ships bound
for any of the ports on that line might undergo
the necessary quarantine. One of the sections of
the law of June q 1872 imposes penalties on ships
which enter port OF the United states
FROM AN INFECTED FOREIGN PORT;
but the board has found this part of the law in
operative, inasmuch as one Of its clauses requires
the promulgntion of the law In the foreign ports.
and the authorities OF Cuba would not permit
this PRONUNCIATION 10 be made. II IS, therefore,
strongly urged In the report that this law be so
amended rs to require bills Of health from all
vessels coming to Inc United States without i'm
posing upon this government the burden of prov
ing their ports OF departure to have been infected,
and also that the penultlcs provided for the viU-
latlon Oi t1e Jaw shoulu Apply Nithout tiie plo-
viso of u previous official PRONUNCIATION in the
said ports. Under the heading of "intersate quar-
artine Ihe Inspection service on the Mississippi
River is described The States of the Mississippi
Valley fearful of the spread OF yellow fever from
cases imported into New Orleans, have required
from all vessels passing up the river from that
city the certificate of freedom from infection OF
National Board of Health inspector as the con-
dtion ON which travel and tralfc will be per-
milted This service is reported us having worked
well, giving that confidence TO the people above
New Orleans which prevents alarms and panics,
and permitting free commercial intercourse while
guarding against the invasion of disease.
WHAT THE MISSISSIPPI SERVICE IS
to the South in respect of yellow fever, the immi-
grant inspection service is TO the North and North
west rs regards smallpox. The widespread preva-
lence of this disease last year was traced in many
instances to importation from Europe. The time
necessary for the disease to develop after infection
is such that an immigrant who has been exposed
at an European port may not sicken until after
his settlement in Western State. To prevent this
importation and spread inspectors have been sta
Mich, through which there is q large Canadian
influx. and at certain of the great railroad dis.
tributing centers, notably at Chicago. These men
pick out and quarantine the smallpox cases and
vaccinate the unprotected immigrants, thus pre-
venting foci of infection from being scattered all
value of the work. Reference is made to the oc-
currence of yellow fever at Pensacola and Browns
vile, and recommendations given for the prOteC-
ton OF the mouth of the Rio Grande. The report
after showing that all the work undertaken and
carried on successfully by the board was clearly
and was accomplished with due regard to
economy, closes with estimates for the continu-
ance Of its work amounting TO Sl50,O00, with an
epidemic contingent fund of 100000