Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-17
Precautions Against yellow Fever.

A~NtSfo
The National Board of Health. though
shorn of part of its authority, and moi
allowed adequate means, is yet determined
to do what it can toward maintaining
quarantine stations for vessels coming
! from ports infected with yellow fever. Ii
is unfortunate in some respects that there
is a|diVisiOn of authority bstween this
| board and the Marine Hospital Service
| TWO rival agencies for the same work are
not likely to be so effective as either
would be alone. Congress at each of the
two last sessions showed disposition to
keep both organizations in the field. but
with very unequal authority and power
Nothing is likely to be gained by such
tempOriZing.
We care nothing about the riyalries be-
tween these two boards, or the DrOVerbial
doctors quarrels which they have ey-
hlblted, save as these rivalries and quar-
reIs are likely to impair the value of the
safeguards imposed by Federal authority
against the introduction and spread OF in
fectiOus disease. Each BODY charges the
other with inefficiency; each has certainly
displayed unseemly anxiety for preoe,
dence. 1t is matter of record, however.
that the communities which have most at
stake, with one or Two notable exceptions.
impose the highest confidence i'm the Na.
tiOnal Board, and for that reason it seems
peculiarly unfortunate that Congress and
the administration have seen fit to put the
other organizatiOn-the Marine Hos pitaI
Service-befOre it,
Within few weeks representatives of
the State Board of Health of Arkansas
Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois. Indiana
and Wisconsin and of local organiza-
tons III Louisiana and Ohio have urged
the President to put the money apprO-
prlated for the suppression of epidemics
at the disposal of the National BOARD
This amounts to the strongest possible
vote of confidence In that body. 1t is not
an isolated instance of it. The board was
originally empowered only to investigate
the origin of diseases and the conditions
OF their spread and suppression,
When, aftcrward, yellow fever became
epidemic and existing agencies were
found wholly inadequate TO cope with
1t, this bady was given extraordinary
powers III the matter of quarantine sta
tiOns and regulations. The best possible
evidence of the importance of CONTINUING
the investment of the board with these
powers is the fact tbat so many official
representatives on Southern States-States
in which IhereE is great jealousy of Fed
eral powers, especially if they are at all
unusual-haye asked for its perpetua.ion.
1t was stated in Congress in February
that over fifty Boards of Health. State and
local, had indorsed the good faith. tbe
prudence and the efficiency of this ma.
tiOnal commission,
Pronounced hostility to the Roard of
Health has been exhibited chiefly in New
Orleans. The commercial interests of
that city charge broadly upon it the es-
tablishment Of an "OdiOusr and eDselessD
inspection system. This is the real ground
OF opposition. Ut Arkansas retorted in
the House OF Representatives, through
Mr. Dunn, that ''the neighboring States
around Louisiana have learned that the
Louisiana State Board of Health serves
the commerce of New Orleans, and. as
now all believe, c0nceals the existence of
pesilence in that city, and MississiDDi
added through Mr., Manning, that the
Board of Health of that State only last
year ''called approximately on the Ma
tonal Board TO establish a system of in.
spection of passengers and freiqh. from
New Orleans '"''
All this is in the history OF the contro-
Yersy, and ought TO be known. But II is
immaterial whether the National Board
or the Marine Hospital Service fights vol
low fever, so that it is fought succecsf,iIIIy
The country will not tolerate any slack
ness IN the enforcement Of regulations for
its suppression OF the part of any one.