The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-02-28
The National Board of Health.

Ol htdlAu NAylliIA WIN t4-e t1ftA -
making such Investigations at all /
places within the United States, or az
foreign ports, as should be deemed |
necessary to prevent the introduction
and dissemination Of contagious and in
fictitious diseases into the country. The
Board was directed to report to Congress
at It's next session plan for a national
public health organization, whichshould
be prepared after consultation with the
principal sanitary organizations Of the
States Of the Union, special attention
being given to thesubjectof quarantine,
both maritime and inland, and also as
to regulations which should beestablish-
ed between State and local systems OF
quaratinc and national quarantinesys-
TEN.
On the I'd Of June, 1879, another act
was passed enlarging the powers of the
National Board. 1t required the Board
TO cooperate with State and municipal
boards in enforcing their regulations for
warding off and stamping out contagious
and infectious diseases, and also to sup
ply such defects in these regulations as
would admit Of the introduction and
propagation of tho diseases, II also
authorized the Board to issue circulars
to consular offices Of the United States
serving abroad, presenting methods for
securing the best sanitary conditions
for vessels bound for the ports of the
United States, and rules for their disin-
lection and isolation in case Of disease
on board.
To defray the expenses incurred IN
carrying out these provisions a lib
eral appropriation was made. The
money was well expended. The Board,
though thwarted by the Louisiana State
Board to the extent Of its power, per
formed incalculable service to the coun-
try in protecting it from the diseases
which had proved so destructive to the
lives and to the business Of various To-
calities in the South and West. It's in
spection system was thorough and efiec-
tive. But the Board incurred the ieal-
ousy and suspicion of other interests
which undertook Systematically to I'M
dermine and overthrow it. Unfortu-
natcly, the hands of its enemies have
been strengthened by the imprudence
and weakness, If not cupidity, Of some
Of its own members, in scheming to in
crease, and profit by, its patronage
This, however, only betrayed the unfit
ness of some of the persons charged
with the execution of tho system, Tho
valuo and uses OF which had been fully
shown.
At the first session Of tho present Con
gress, the money required for cxecutin,
: the business of tho sanitary service, wa
placed in the hands Of the President in
stead of at the disposal Of the Board ant
no selected the surgeon in charge Of tn
marine hospital service as the agent 70
determining whero and how it SHOULD
be expended. The effect has been t,
cripple, and to destroy the efficiency OF
tho National Board The sundry ciyi
appropriation bill reported to the Hous
at the present session, contained the fol
, lowing item
II Tho President Of the United States
, hereby authorized, in case Of a threaten
cd or actual epidemic, TO uso u sum no
. exceeding 500, 1000, out Of any money j
: tho Treasury not otherwise appropriated
in aid Of State or local boards or Other
wise, in his discretion, in pTeveatin
and suppressing tho spread Of the sam
and maintaining quarantine at points Q
: danger.
Q Mr.. Manning, Of Mississippi moved t
amend as follows:
Said sum to bo expended under I'll
7 supervision of the National Board
Q Health.
Theamondmont was violently oppose
Q by Mr.. Ellis Of Louisiana, and Mr. Iii
i cock Of New York, and was ably adv
/ Gated by Messrs Manning, Dunn
q Arkansas, and King of Louisiana. 1t
o a misfortune to the sections Of the cou
+ try, most subject to the ravages of pes
Q tontial diseases, that the amendment W
. defeated. The following, extract fro
4 the remarks of Mr.. Manning will ha,
special interest for our Mississippi roa
10 ers.
m Mr.. Manning. The gentleman from LIZ
i isiana tMr Ellsl complains that good fai
y has not been shown by the National Boa
On Of Health in the discharge of its duties, wi
~ regard TO epidemic diseases the presery
ton OF the public health, and the expen
MT ture of public funds, lie complains,aI
he that criticisms have been visited upon NJ
4. Orleans by the the gentleman from Arku
NC sas Mr. Dumb who spoke in support
en- my amendm mt and by myself.
\. Nov, gentlemen who live in glass hou
rs should not be the first to throw stones.
lily was in reply to an im2utation OF the gro