The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-07-11
Mississippi State Board of Health.


The Mississippi State Board of Healt
-(like the late National Board) seems t
be affected with mania. 1t has on
very clear idea at least about yellow
fever, and that one seems TO be tina
New Orleans is the centre of contagion
the poison spot from whence emanate
all disease. II may have some othe
clear ideas, but it has never shown then
in practice
We beg TO suggest to these gentlemen
that, like the defunct National Board
they may be so intently engaged watch
ing New Orleans that the fever will
creep in on them from some other direc
ton. In fact, our information leads us
to believe that unless more attentioa Il
paid to quarantine matters along the
Mississippi Sound, New Orleans may be
compelled for self protection to declare
quarantine against the towns located
there. Louisiana is already furnish
ing the only safeguards against the
admission of infected vessels into Pearl
river
The people are complaining about the
conduct Of the health officer of the
counties along the Sound, nd very
properly in view of the dans r. The
vessels engaged in the lumber trade are
generally old condemned wooden crafts
that can get no insurance for an ordi-
nary cargo, and are more likely to be
infected than merchants shipping in the
regular trade They ply directly to the
infected ports of the West Indies, Cen
trail and South America, and are many of
them centres of infection even though
the fully aeclimated crew on board may
not be affected by the disease. Com
munication between these vessels and the
shore ought to be held under. control,
and on the first indication uf danger alb
solutely prohibited.
The Mississippi Board of Health could
do something in the way of protecting
the people whose money they are spend
ing by some practical measure TO guard
their State at point where it is really
threatened. IN. o. Picayune.
We would beg to say to our contem-
porary that it is entirely wrong in at
tributing to the Mississippi Health
Board an exaggerated estimate Of the inn
portance of New Orleans as a place for
the spread of yellow fever. 1t knows
the exposed portion of that city from
its constant communication with infected
countries; and has reason to realize the
danger of its dissemination when once
introduced into that city. The whole
Mississippi Valley has had bitter Eek
perisnce on that subject. .ahe ,lessoqs
of 1873 and ,79 are not forgotten. TO
what action of the Mississippi Health
Board, the Picayune refers we are not
informed. We ourselves are not apprised
of any proceeding by the Board encroach-
ing upon the prerogatives of the New
Orleans authorities, or implying distrust
of their willingness, and ability to ward
off the pestilential disease which has
usually found its way into the Mississip-
pi Valley through the Crescent City.
If the Picayune was learned in the
statutes of Mississippi designed to pre-
vent the introduction and spread of dis
ease into the State, it would know that
he State Board has no jurisdiction over
he coast counties of Hancock and Har-
,ison, and that they are especially ex-
empt from the provisions of the law
irming the Board with power to prevent
he introduction of disease. Those
ounties at their own instance, have been
made a separate district, and are armed
With authority to quarantine both
Igainst foreign countries and adjoining
states. If they have been indifferent to
he perils of the situation, we are not ,
of the fact; but if there be
rrors of omission or of commission,
he State Board is blameless. With the
of the Executive, the Board
will strive to do its duty under the laws '
md we are much mistaken in the men !!
it if they do not act wisely
md at the same time fearlessly. Ii