Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-06-15
Protection FROM Infection Immi-
grants.

At meeting of representatives OF
the national, state and local Boards OF
Health, i'm Port Huron, May IL, DIR
Baker called the body to order. where
upon DIR. Leroy Parker was made chair
man. The meeting was characterized
by large attendance of physicians and
men interested in sanitary questions
and by interesting discussions of ques.
tions important to public health.
Regarding the present movement fol-
a sanitary inspection of immigrants
passing from the seaboard westward,
DR.. Smith said it had grown out of a
meeting of health officers held in Chica-
go year ago. There was period
when no deaths from smallpox were
reported in the United States. AT that
time immigration from Europe was
very light but as immigration increas-
ed smallpox increased, showing that
the disease was easily stamped out ex-
cept when it was constantly imported.
Formerly, also, when the rate of ocean
travel was slower, immigrants taking
passage from Europe with the seeds of
the disease in their systems developed
it so far before reaching this country
that they were stopped at the sea-
board quarantine. With the present
rapid rate of ocean travel this Is all
changed, and not infrequently persons
who have been exposed before taking
passage i'll Europe arrive at their desti-
nation IN tue West before the disease is
so far developed as to show its true
character. The present law requires
| the National Board of Health to deal
only with those in whom the disease is
fully developed, and attempts TO pre-
vent persons from going forward who
are not known to be protected have
failed.
/ The trouble is now with unprotected
Immigrants. The health officers of Chi
go, where 800 cases of smallpox have
been treated the present year, say that
the disease will prevail there constantly
as long as immigrants are arriving who
are unprotected by vaccination. Many
of those who now come are unvaccin-
ated A proof of the protection fur
nished 10y vaccination is the fact that
Notwithstanding the constant preva-
lence of the disease in Chicago, there
are not six cases year among school
children, all of whom are vaccinated.
The plans adopted by the Chicago con-
ventien provide for system of inspec-
ton and surveillance from the time the
immigrants take passage in Europe up
to the time they leave the seaboard.
Dr. Smith felt certain that if system
of inland inspection could be maintain
ed, The spread of smallpox in the Unit
ed states by immigrants, could be al
most entirely prevented.
Port Huron, next to New York, is
the most important point of entry of
immigrants into the United States, and
will probably receive 10000 during
the present year. One object of the
present meeting is TO organize here
system of inspection similar to that now
in force in New York. In this the CO.
operation of the Canadian authorities is
sought, as much of the smallpox re-
ceived in the United States comes from
or through Canada.
DR.. Farquharson, secretary of the
Iowa State Board of Health, said small
pox had been introduced at 20 TO 30
places in Iowa during the past year, all
coming from or through Chicago. I'm
migrants had arrived at Chicago recent
ly on the Chicago & Grand Trunk rail-
way, and had proceeded westward On
the Chicago & Rock Island without in
spection. He thought if the inspection
was made thorough in Chicago none
would be'necessary in Iowa.
DR.. Baker said anything would be an
Improvement on the present system.
AS it is now immigrants passing
through Michigan take the infection
with them, and it afterwards comes
back from the West There is no sys-
tenn of inspection at Port Huron, and
one should be adopted. 1t should not
be too elaborate, nor undertake too
much at first. Health officers should
have power to take charge of suspects
and either stop them or isolate them on
the train. He thought it important to
| inquire and decide where infection
could best be done. Could it be done
in baggage or freight cars while in
| transity
Mr.. Charlesworth, representing the
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
railroad, being called for, said he had
not given the matter enough considera-
tion to be prepared with an answer. On
his road no definite instructions were
given regarding the treatment of small
pox cases when discovered, but much
was left to the intelligent action of con-
ductors. Some time since man had
been found on a westward bound train
sick with smallpox, when the train
was short distance east of Toledo.
The conductor at once telegraphed to
the health officer of that city, and when
the train arrived there the man was
placed in his charge and cared for.
DR.. French asked if it was proper fol
a conductor to put person suffering
from smallpox off the train at the first
station after his condition was discov
cred, or should he be isolated and taken
to point where proper provision fol
/ 90 10 haa,, 1ad