Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-25
Tuesday Morning, April 9. 1882.

THE IMPORTATION OF DISEASES. l It is evident that some more effective plan 1 for the prevention of the importation of con- 1 tagious or infectious diseases into this coun- l try is needed. Since the National Board of Health was created some of the most impor- l tant provisions of the law under which 1t has worked have proved imperative, because they could not be enforced in respect to bills of health in foreign ports until the act, as we'll as the rules made under it, were promul- gated in those ports and because in some of the most dangerous ports the authorities would not allow their promulgation. 1 To-day the Senate will be asked to consider a bill amending the act of March 3, 1879, entitled An act to prevent the introduction of contagious or infectious diseases into the United States The most material of the proposed amendments is that requiring that the act and the rules and regulations made under it shall be posted in the office of the Consul, Vice Consul or other consular officer of the United States This obviates the ne- cessity for formal promulgation, and requires all vessels sailing from foreign ports to any
 
 the ships papers bill of health signed by the consular or medical officer of the United States at the port of departure Such bill of health, it is believed, would enable quar- antine officers to secure greater safety in home ports The National Board of Health recommends the change, which is recom- mended also by the National Academy of Sciences and nearly every sanitary associ- ation in the country.
 The bill does not propose any offensive interference with State or municipal boards of health, but if the rules and regulations of such boards are insufficient to prevent the importation of contagious diseases, the National Board, under the orders of the President, is authorized to prescribe such rules, to be approved by the President, as it shall deem sufficient. And it is pro- vided that if State or municipal board re- fuses to obey such rules, the President may detail an officer of the United States to en- force them.
 The Senate select committee which pre- pared this bill has carefully investigated the rise and progress of contagious or infectious diseases in this country, and has collected much interesting information. For instance, it appears that yellow fever has invaded this country sixty five times within this century, and that proof was abundant in nearly all of the epidemics to show that they resulted from imported contagion, while there is no satisfactory proof that the disease ever orig mated here The yellow fever epidemic of 1878, with it's record of 100, coo cases, 10000 deaths, and loss in material wealth various ly estimated at from $1OO, ,O00, GOO to S2OO,- 900, ,OOo, led to the adoption of the act now to be amended, and the benefcent results of that legislation were shown in the limitation of the fever in 1879, while under sensible quarantine regulations business was scarcely retarded while the disease was being stamped out.
 The country is now free from yellow fever and cholera, and it is good time to do what can be done to keep it free. The bill referred to above is an important step in the right di- rectiOn,