The Indianapolis journal., 1883-07-30
EXPECTED EPIDEMICS.

Precautions at Atlantic Ports Against ChoI-
era and Yellow Fever.
special TO the indianapolis Journal
WAsHINGToN, July Surgeon general J.
B, Hamilton, chief of the marine hospital
service, is taking prompt measures to fre-
vent the introduction of yellow fever and
cholera into American ports. Strict quaraL-
tine regulations have been in force along the
Gulf for some time, but the Northern ports
have been catelessly and inadequately
guarded, A belief is prevalent that this is
going TO be a year Of pestilence and some-
thing akin to panic has overtaken the resi-
dents of Atlantic seaboard cities The yellow
fever in Vera Cruz and other Mexican cities
is of an unusually malignant type, but i'll the
West Indies it is not so severe. That Asiatio
cholera has gained foothold in London, and
cannot be dislodged, is a settled fact. Me.
teorolOgical conditions are favorable to the
rapid spread of the pestllence should it gain
a footing in American cities, and the fears
entertained by sanitarians from the first
are communicating TO the masses. Vessels
are leaving infected ports every day,
for America, and nothing but strict enforce
ment of rigid quarantine rules will protect
the communities of the North. The English
steamer Audrian brought TWO cases of yellow
fever to Hampton Roads the other day,
and on Saturday the California steamed
right into Baltimore with four cases on
board-a fact which is attributed to the inad-
equacy of the patrol at the mouth of the
bay. One million people living in the cities
and towns on the Chesapeake and its naviga-
BILE tributaries have been at the mercy of
chance since the beginning of warm weather.
Popular apathy has until now, crippled the
government service in its efforts TO proper ly
guard the entrance to the bay, and the dam
ger on that account has been constantly in
creasing.
The health conference held at Fortress
Monroe on Saturday afternoon was attended
by representatives from all the cities on the
Chesapeake waters. The conference adopted
resolutions which have resulted in the re-
moval OF the quarantine station to an isolat-
ed point under the lee OF Cape
Charles away from the health resorts, and the
adoption of measures which will lead to
careful patrol of the waters between the
Virginia capes. The guests of the hotels at
other points on the lower bay are leaving
panic stricken, and it is predicted that be-
fore the close of the week the resorts will be
practically deserted
Precautions have been taken to keep the
marine hospital service posted on the de-
parture of infected vessels for the American
ports until the arrival of Medical Inspector
Mainegra. Inspector Burgess has been re-
porting from Havana since July 1, and
will continue the performance of that duty.
The health officers of all Gulf ports have re-
ceived peremptory orders to send all vessels
from infected ports to the Ship Island quar-
anti station, which is managed by the
marine hospital service. The bark Salomo,
from Vera Cruz, via Galveston, for the north,
has not reported, although she left Calves
ton July 10. She was manned at Galveston,
by crew believed to be yellow fever proof,
but it is time she was being heard from.
The Secretary of the Treasury has been
somewhat puzzled what to do in view
of the approach of infectious diseases
by sea. By chapter &C of the laws of 1873
the entry OF vessels from infected ports
was forbidden or restrained and the
Surgeon-g OF the marine hospital serv-
ice was empowered, under direction of the
Secretary, TO make regulations therefor At
that time the Russian plague was imminent.
Regulations were made which directed quar-
antne isolation of infectious freight, dsin-
lection, ventilation, and even burning tn ere
of il necessary.
BY an act in 1879 the national board of
health was substituted for the Surgeon-gen-
eral of the marine hospital service, and the act
of 1878, so far as ii gives power to that officer
was repealed, and so those regulations be-
came naught. But the act of 1879 by it's
own terms was limited in existence to four
years, which expired in June of this year,
The query in the Sacretary's mind was, did
the act of 1879 revive the act of 1872 After
a careful consideration of the whole matter
the Secretary holds that the repeal of the act
of 1878 by the act of 1879 was but limited
repeal, and that the expiration of the act OF
1879 by its own terms has revived the act or
1873. He has therefore determined that the
Surgeon-general of the marine hospital
service may again issue the regulations in
question, and that the customs officers shall
be instructed to carry them out with due
discretion and caution in the use Of the
measure of severity.
Under this revived law the health officers
I of Boston have been ordered to stop the
steamer Bavaria, now due there with large
consignment of cholera rags from Egypt, and
burn them IL necessary. Doubts are enter
! tanned in certain quarters as to the genuine