Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-25
THE NATIosALRoARD OF HEALTH

The following appeared in the Cincinnati
Commercial OF Wednesday as a "speeial" from
Washington:
sureeon-Geueral Hamilton of the Marine Hos
pijAl Service has determined on a very eonserva-
live eourse in handling the 500 OOO sPeclai spl
defnic fusd placed in his hands by the Pfesl1sInt
through the secretary of the treasury ne ia
tionai Board of Health distinguished itsei during
its existence by pursuing a course winch was a1
arbitrary it disagreeable. Presuming on us
national character, # practically lghoIeI 1Sc 81
suddenly ciariRg yellOwfevrr epidemic az some
psrti ulsr town and then placing mat LOW
under stricfest quarantine Sometimes lbe-e
were no sufficient grounds for these proceedings,
and they were exceedingly annoying 20 me peob4le
day that a member of the National Board OF
oI 80 sa 70 tb bpe Oh getting control
Of the special epidemic fund, Surgeon HamilIo1'
who now has undispuseo eqntiG1 s %
II he would take the initial We in nothing. ana
least of all in declaring yellow-tever epidemic In
any particular place.
This is part Of the systematic vili6cation
of the National Board of Health, instigsted
By jsalousies which had their origin in New
Orleans and Washington. Surgeon-General
~ Hamilton has, it is believed, lent himself
to this vii6cation, fearing that perhaps the
National Board might interfere with his pre-
negatives to curtail and eventually take
them all from him. If this is true he may
live to find that he has made great mis-
axe. There is no possible connection be-
tween the Marine Hospital Service and quar-
antine and inspection service. The duties
devolving upon The physicians in one service
cannot be performed by those of the other
without the neglect or abandonment Of the
primary official functions. A doctor can
not give his attention to the patients
in marine hospital and inspect
steamboats, and railroad trains at the
same time. He must neglect one or the
other. But we will be told additional physi
clans will be employed for the special work
Of river and rail inspection. If 80, then we
shall simply have the National Board of |
Health in another form-as a subordinate |
oureau of the Marine Hospital Service. This |
r, perhaps, what DR.. Hamilton desires; il |
certainly is what DIR. Joseph Jones, of the |
Lou isiana State Board of Health, has Ia
oored for and Mr.. "Sunsep Cox, of New |
York, lent himself to, Notwithstanding the
earnest representations of Senator Harris, OF |
this State, to whose efforts and those of the |
Hon. Casey Yonngwe owe the bcnefcentwofk |
of that board in this section as a truthful and
honest sentinel to prevent the introduction
Of epidemic disease, not only into Memphis,
but to all the cities of The lower part of the
valley of the Mississippi. Out of its vigilance
in this regard has grown the lying statement
in the above dispatch as to its TOO
hasiy declaration of the presence of yellow
fever in cities, and quariniining them az
cordingy. Surgeon General ~ Hamilton
has and is exercising unlawful use of the |
contingent fund appropriated by Congress, to
be expended by the National Board of
Health, with the Presidents sanction. That
hat was the intention of Congress there can
be no doubt. The Marine Hospital Service
v as not known to he national legislature in
connection with quarantine or health in
,pection service. 1t could not therefore
have even been contemplated as the almoner
Of the national gift in time of epidemic
distress. The secretary of the treasury
must know this, but he is susceptible to
The Establishments of politicians who are
not always careful as to the means by
which they gain their ends. Through
these, perhaps, and by such influences as
local jsalousies could inspire, he has
doubtless been wrought upon TO con-
mt to the impudent intrusion by DR..
Hamilton into a service and upon duties
that the most ordinary prudence would have
dictated he should carefully have refrained
from. His conduct has been contemplate, and
places him in an attitude of defiance |
10 the etiquette and the ethics upon
which the medical profession prides
itself, and upon the maintenance of
which it's members grow eloquent at their
Yearly meetings. We trust the National
Board of Health will hold together in spite
Of the malicious opposition OF New Orleans,
New York and the surgeon-general ~ OF the
Marine Hospital Service. A body so useful
aod so honorably administered cannot be
with. 1t is essentially necessary 10
.he safety of the people of the Mississippi
valley from epidemic disease; its functions
,annot be usurped by the Marine Hospital
Service without detriment 10 the public
interest, and it will not do to make it mere
bureau of that service and thus extend the
powers of Surgeon General (?) Hamilton, who
night thereby be emboldened by-aud-by TO
extend his nild sway over the army and
lavy, and become verilable surgeon-general |
indeed