St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-03
Revenue, Marine and Marine Hospital
Services


WASHINGTON, Dee. 2. The annual report
Of the chief OF the revenue marine service
shows the relief work performed exceeds that
OF any other year. The assisted 24G mer-
chant vessels, shipwrecked or in distress,
valued with cargoes Of over 81, 600, coo, anG
saved many whose lives were imprriiled. In
addition 10 the regular work the vessels
maintained a sanitary patrol along the coast
against the Introduction OF cholera
and yellow fever by ships ar
irving from foreign ports. The work
OF the revenue marine in Alaska has been
productive Of most gratifying results. and
the recommendation is made Tor a new YES
sci specially adapted TO cruising IN Alaskan
waters. The report says the work in this re-
gion cannot now be abandoned without SER
ions loss 10 the country. The cost OF con-
ducting the service for the year is SS51, 3Il.
which IS the average for a number Of years.
The report notes the fact that the assessed
amount OF fines upon vessels apprehended
through the efforts Of this service during the
year is almost great as the whole cost of
maintaining IL, while the value Of property
rescued through its fundamentally is eight
and a quarter times as great
Surgeon General Hamilton. Of the United
States marine hospital service, has submitted
his annual report Forty-four thousand sew
en- hundred and ffiy-one patients received
relief from this service during the year, OF
which l3,O1S were treated in hospitals and
3 .673 at disDensaries. The danger from
yellow fever has been less this year than
usual, partly by reason OF lessened severity
of that disease in Mexico and Cubs. and
partly on account Of the vigilance of local
health officers and medical officers of the
marine hospital service in charge of quarsu-
tines, and the efficient patrol
Of the coast by the revenue cut
ter service. The occurrences OF cholera
in Europe so soon after its outbreak OF last
year in Egypt, occasioned much concern in
this country, and measures were early taken
10 guard agsiust its introduction in the Uni
ted States. The health officers Of our sea
ports, as well as the department, have been
kept advised by the consuls OF the departure
of eargoes liable 10 convey infection, and
steerage passengers from European ports
bound 10 the United States, have peeu care
fully inspected by the sanitary inspectors,
acting under direction of the United States
eonsuls. The cholera having materially sub
sided in France, In the interest of economy
tie inspectors at London and Liverpool were
discontinued about the middle Of October.
but as the cholera sill exists in Italy and
sporadicaily in the south OF France, the in
spect0rs at continental ports have been con-
tinued 10 service up 10 the date Of this report.
at appears" Surgeon General Hamilton
SAYS, "that quarantine measures which are
effective against yellow fever, are not equally
so as against cholera, and all guarantees
should be conducted as inspection and dis
injecting stations in addition to the proper
isolation OF the sick. But quarantine mea
sures, however efficient, viii not alone suf-
fee TO prevent and epidemic of cholera in
this country If it should be once pass the
outer barriers. Prompt isolation
Of the first cases and municipal
cleanliness are absolutely necessary factors
in the prevention OF an epidemic The
fact is so well understood by local authOri-
ties that further reference to this branch OF
the subject seems unnecessary, except To say
that IN event of an epidemic appearing in
the interior, it viii probably be necessary to
supplement the state forces by such aid as
the government may be able TO
furnish" the surgeon general
refers TO the temporary embargo
recently placed on old rags, and recommends
that the law be so amended as to provide
that hereafter no rags shall be imported into
the United States, OF be transported from one
state 10 another until such rags shall have
been boiled or otherwise disinfected, under
such regulations as the secretary Of the treas
ury shall prescribe. In reply 10 the cues
tiuns which have been raised with regard 20
supposed danger OF Introduction Of disease
into this country by means of immigrants
through Canada, the surgeon general saws:
The quarantine regulations Of Canada are
even more stringent than those OF the
United States, ami toe supposed danger Of
infection from immigrants coming from that
section, whether resisents or from, over the
sea, has been overrated. Furthermore. the
Canadian health officers are now acting in
harmony with our own.