Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-10

,
its individual membership; the higher that
standard the more enduring its existence and
the wider It's influence. There are over 2OOO
prscticing physicians in Tennessee, many OF
whom are graduates of Tennessee colleges
and all identified by social ties and business
interest as other citizens with the for
tunes of the State. They are inter
ested in everything efecting Its
N aterial prosperity. The State society has
prior and special claims upon these gentle
men TO give it their influence, and con-
tribute in every way they can TO Its strength
and development. The medical profession,
az now organized, through county and dis
trict societies, keeping pace with the spirit
of the age, takes somewhat the shape OF legis-
lalive bodies, and as such are governed by
parliamentary rules controlling such bodies.
Within and between these separate organlZa-
tons of the same character, protesting the
promotion of fraternal feeling and profess
sional good, there need be no cophict of in
terest, but should find uni6caiIon in the
State society; they may be distinct as the
pillows but one as the sea-" Concert OF
action will follow as a logical sequence OF
loyal allegiance TO commendable cause.
State society should include within its MEM
bership the whole profession in the State,
and that membership should be guarantee
OF proper professional recognition anywhere
that renewed interest will be awakened;
that those elements of discord which, I'M
happily, will occasionally arise in all bodies
OF this character may be avoid
ed and each unfortunate occurrence
of the past calculated TO engender
discord may be consigned to oblivion; that
the aim of the society may be to inspire each
individual and each medical organization
with the highest appreciation of professional
ethics, that there may be proper ambition
to emulate each othor III the advancement of
eyery interest OF the society, to the end that
- rnin ITS Jurisdiction it may extend its
beneticeDces to all, binding all firmly to-
gether under one professional bond and
pressing unequafly upon no one part. In
addresses of this character custom has es-
tabiished rule TO select some one subject to
which attention may be specially directed
Though not complying rigidly with that rule
have thought lit on this occasion to invite
your attention as briefly as possible to the
subject of inland quarantine as an important
one in the domain of State medicine. / am
aware that there are those both within the
profession and among the laity or
business community who differ with
me on this subject, and having pro-
nounced views which have been put
into practical operation for the past two
years, and which | propose TO adhere to as a
future policy under similar circumstances.
deem it proper TO record those views here
l regard this as vital question to every ma
terial interest in this portion Of the State,
and one which cannot be too thoroughly I'M
derstood in all Its details, not only as prsc-
teal measure in tInes of known or threat
ened danger from an infectious disease
outside of the State, or in different
localities within the State, but its relations
towarl community in which real or sup
posed danger sx lists and its bearing toward
Interstate Commerce. While the preserva-
ton Of the public health is paramount to all
other considerations, the question is, how
can this best be accomplished with the min
imum amount of interference with individ-
ual interest in aud commercial relations
between communities. The great improve
ments in m 'dern transportation whereby
remote localities are brought into quick
requires corresponding
progress in the study and practical applica-
ton of the principles of public hygiene.
Therefore, az all communities are more liza
BILE to be affected by infectious diseases from
the centers OF population than heretofore, by
reason of increased facilities of Transports
ton, it is incumbent upon all charged with
the duty Of the preservation OF the public
health to have pronounced views on this sub
ject. This, as well some general priuci-
piles OF public hygiene applicable to every
community, are supposed to be in measure
familiar to every practitioner of medicine
upon which he is liable to be called TO ex-
press opinion for the benefit of those
from whom he derives his patronage. There
is no appliance calculated to do more inius-
tics both to threatened, or TO a suspected
community, than that OF quarantine, and
none from which greater benefits may arise
under proper administration of its Of
fees. In view of the experiences of
the past few years, in my opinion
i. is TO the people OF Memphis and this por-
tion of West Tennessee the most Important
question for four months OF the year of all
pertaining TO the public health. While / AM
an advocate of local sanitation in every par.
ticular and to its fullest extent, as my official
record for the past three years amply attests,
| regard properly administered quarantine
as paramount to it in times of threatened
danger. The old idea that quarantine alone
Implies a physical obstruction and pro-
longed detention of all articles of commerce
and individuals from a suspected place in
order to prevent the introduction Of infec-
tious disease, falls far short of what is now I'M
derstood by that term. The development of
the principles of State medicine as now ap.
piled to quarantine carries with it all the
appliances of disinfection of those articles
subj ct TO an obligatory quarantine, and ex-
ercises just discrimination in select
ing such articles aud individuals as
are known TO have been exposed
to ipf ction. The surveillance exercised
by q thorough and impartial inspection SER
vice, an indispensable auxiliary to a proper
OF the offices OF quarantine,
renders individuals more careful as to per-
soual exposure who would be otherwise in
different, and shippers of goods as we'll as
public carriers more vigilant IS to their re-
probabilities, and the danger of carrying
from a known or suspected place to another
the seeds of an infectious disease To dis
cuss this question at length, as it deserves,
and indicate specifically the many liabilities
to antagonisms likely to arise, especially in
communities, with public car
riers, the travelling public generally, and in
of communities and those charged
with the administration of quarantine and
its auxiliary inspections, would go beyond
the proper limits of this address. But will
state that many of the objections Justly
urged against an arbitrary quarantine have
been removed, and il is confidently hoped
hat as the organization of public health
bodies are perfected safely will be increased
and mutual confidence established, based
upon recognized. efficiency and appreciaiive
AT The instance OF this socie-
y our last Legislature passed an "act to
provide for the r. gistration of births, marri-
,ges and deaths in Tennessee, with the view
pile vital statistics for the State. The OBJ
ects of this law are certainly commendable,
AZ npon il depends the collection of vital
without which The application of
he science of public hygiene is obstructed,
,ut the act being defective in some respects
loes not produce desired results. Many OF
he county officials charged with its execu-
ion do not seem to appreciate its utility, or
It least decline the service, though the duties
imposed are merely nominal, and involve no
PERSONAL expense and very little RESPONSE
,iliiy. These officials hold that government
las no right to impose responsibilities
md demand service without adequate
and consequently the
aw, though eommendable in its OBJ
scts, is practically of no value. A revis-
on of this act, with such amendments as ex-
,erience has shown 10 be necessary, should
BE made at the next session of the Legis-
AZURE. In this connection / will mention
hat at a meeting of the West Tennessee
Medical Society, held in Union City, Febru-
ry !, 1882, a series Of resolutions were
Idopted commendatory Of this law, and
recommending the appointment OF health
'ficer for each county, to be paid for service
s other county officers. The president Of
hat society was instructed by these resolu-
ions to appoint a committee to draft a
on the subject of the resolutions
md present it to the next General Assembly
f Tennessee in behalf of that society. /
hink this society should supplement those
esolutions by taking such action as is neces-
airy to cooperate with that committee. As
legislative bodies and political economists,
s a rule, do not favor the creation of new
fices, it occurs TO me that the |