Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-08-15
Some Trne InMardness.

/ The following appeared as Wash
lngton special in the Cincinnati Com
mercial. 1t is little out of date as
news matter, but throws some light
on topic which just now is of great
popular interest:
Well informed men are inclined to
believe that a yellow fever epidemic
in the South is once more among the
probabilities. In the presence Of the
great seourge, the National Board of
Health and the Marine Hospital Ser.
vice stand glaring at one another
They are exceedingly hot, and they
wax hotter. The country will not he
big enough for both Each wants to
control the country's health. Each
wants to handle the possible epidemic.
Each would like to control the quar-
antine, and, if possible, to shut out
the other in sort OF perpetual quar-.
antine for all time to come OF
course, neither would be content with
the control Of quarantine. The hos
pitals, physicians, nurses, remedies
and supplies must follow. They do
not want to share the control. The
organization gaining the upper hand
proposes to Keep the other down in
definitely, and to shut it out from anv
participation in the great work
Of fighting the plague. Each
claims that it is all sufficient, and
therefore that its enemy is superhu.
GUS, The National Board of Health,
which has already formally protested
to the President against the action of
the Marine Hospital Service in taking
hasty measures for the prevention of a
new yellow fever epidemic in the
Southwest, thinks that the Marine
Hospital Service is nothing but an in
tated bureau of the Treasury Depart.
ment, and ought to be reduced to its
original size and station. 1t regards
this service as a nondescript upstart.
without an apology for its course in
attempting, independently of the
National Board of Health, to cope
with an epidemic, large or small. 1t
considers the service a mere appendage
of the revenue, marine and customs
bureaus, designed to meet the wants
Of sailors in our merchant marine. 1t
considers itself the only authorized
agency for the suppression of disease
in the United States, the only conser.
vator of the public health. Congress
does not agree with it Congress cut
its estimates down aud then appropri-
ate d less than the reduced estimates,
and placed the control Of the $l00, 600
specially appropriated for use in case
Of epidemic in the hands of the Presi-
dent.
The National Board of Health does
not care rap. 1t abates none of its
claims. 1t is asgrasping as ever. The
Marine Hospital Service looks upon
the National Board of Health as
clumsy and superhuous. 1t regards
itself as the only organization in the
country competent to grapple with
anu Ihl lONAAO duy pldBO6. 1J pOlulS
with pride to its past and present eff
cheney as contrasted with the past and
present efficiency of the Board Of
Health. 1t contrasts its brisk business.
like, capable ways with the slow,
cumbersome, complicated, ineffective
methods of the National Board of
Health.
It's able. It's ready. 1t is willing
1t does not see why anybody should
stop to look up its pedigree or try to
find its warrant while men are dying
and a plague impending. 1t expects
success. 1t expects to control the
slO0,0 ,0O0 the President has in case Of
an epidemic. Itexpects to crowd the
National Board of Bealth out of the
fight, and to rule without rival. Of
course this end cannot be attained
without q fight, and q bitter one.
Meanwhile the Marine Hospital Ser.
vice holds the fort.