The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-06-18

cally described by you one year ago,
and not even reminder of those ac-
climated stevedores who were to take |
their places and man your immaculate
ship to the city Wharves.
Now, my dear Doctor, I trust you
viii pardon the audacious assertion that
the exchange OF crews at the quaran-
tine station and the steam fans for
ventiiating, were the only original
features of the much talked of new
system of quarantine, and you have
abandoned the one that necessarily in
volved detention.
The proposition that persons on an
infected ship, or a ship leaving an
infected atmosphere, are in danger
until at least five days after the
thorough disinfection of said ship, can
not be denied. There is not a writer
on the subject of yellow fever who
limits the incubation to less number
of days, and some go beyond it. The
regulations" of the National Board
of Health" the highest authority of
this country, or any other, declare that
passengers under observation for vel
low fever shall be detained for at
least five days from the time of last
exposure.
When vessel from a port where
yellow fever prevails is taken charge
of by your quarantine officer; it is a
pOStulate that the vessel is infected. .
If, not; the transfer of cargo to the
dlSlnfectinp warehouse is a useless
| and extravaganza expense imposed
upon the owner, and the invocation of
steam fans to purify her a miserable
mummery.
1t she is infected, her crew is liable
| to receive the Infection up to the very
| hour of her publication, and are not
liable to show any evidences of it for
ieyeral days thereafter.
AS shown in the protest, your rules
require no detention, aud you publicly
assert that the new system rendered
it unnecessary. Your sole reliance is
in Immigration, steam fans and poison.
| freely admit that your process for
| applying these agents Is ingenious,
and well worth a trial; but the pro-
lection offered is not alone suffi
Gent.
{ Fumigation has been often tried
and ten Thousand monuments monuments in The
Mississippi Valley attest its worthless.
ness.
Steam fans may purify ship, but
they can not render innocuous a man
IN whose blood the germs of yellow
fever have found home.
Your poison may be a deadly agent
for the destruction, of that subtle
undiscovered entity that develops
epedimics; but when, and where, AND
how, was the fact ever demonstrat.
ed.
I A quarantine of detention anG
observation does offer a Trustworthy
shield against this great enemy of the
South, and you a5rogate it to risk
everything upon new plan for max
Ing an old experiment.
4 / have no desire TO dictate policy
for your honorable body, and the pro
test forwarded in the form of a circu
lar letter was dispassionately, and /
thought, respectfully offered.
The manner of its reception was &
surprise, and the cause ofmuch regret
but it will not divert me from the line
of duty before indicated.
Il Our differences of opinion, honest
; ly entertained and fearlessly express,
ed, should not mar the friendship OF
years, nor degrade our correspondence
to one of charges and coantercharges.
would not, even by innuendo, at
tribute an official act of yours to IN
worthy motives, nor permit any ONT
to do so. We have high and RESPONSE
bic trusts. Concession should be met
concession. IF you succeed il
reducing with perfect security the
period of detention to five days after
ship has undergone treatment at the
dislnfecting warehouse, you Will have
accomplished great work for YOU
State. Z a
| Conservatism Is the pendulum thai
regulates the world.
| We may both be IN error; you, By {
commendable desire to promote tht
commercial prosperity of Few Orlean!
and by adhering to old rules that
have for nearly twenty yearf excluded
epedimics from the State of Texas.
l Let us throw aside Individual views
and in a liberal spirit seek a medium
that will neither embarrass the bust
ness interests of the country, nor i'm
peril the lives of the people.
have the honor to be,
Z Your obedient servant,
IL = r. M. SWEARINGEN,
Health Offioor of tho St,,to of Ulaxoe