Savannah morning news., 1886-03-20
The Medical Soelety's Quarantine
Res3lu tians.

| the quaTaHtin regulations AZ bhAs p"it'
| The change proposed is that the time
| which vessels from certain ports shall re-
main at quarantine shall be shortened.
The Council Will soon be asked, doubtless,
to modify the regulations In accordance
with the views expressed in the resolu-
tions.
1t is a fact worthy Of careful attention
that Immediately after yellow lever epi-
demie at any of the ports liable to cpl
denies Of that disease, the demand for
strict quarantine regulations is Impera-
tive and is complied with. A few years
Of immunity from the disease, however,
so far allays apprehensions Of danger that
the pressure in favor of less rigorous
quarantine regulations is successful.
With the modification OF the regulations
come oarelessness and comparative in
difference, and, finally, another epidemic.
Then the demand for a strict quarantine
is renewed,
There is comparatively little, If any
thing, positively known about the origin
OF yellow fever. The theory that it
originates in our South Atlantic and Gulf
ports under certain conditions has sup
porters. The better opinion, however, is
that it never appears anywhere in this
country unless imported, and it will
probably be admitted that the
cities liable to it have enjoyed
immunity from 1t to a much greater ex-
tent where they have maintained strict
quarantine than where they have not.
There are instances, Of course, where
cities have suffered from yellow fever
Notwithstanding they maintained what
were thought to be, very rigorous quar-
antine regulations, but, in such instances
there have been suspicious, and pretty
well founded ones too, that the regula-
tions were not enforced in accordance
with their letter and spirit.
1t may be true as stated that there has
been a gradual relaxation In the quaran-
tine regulations within the last few years
at New York, Philadelphia and other
North Atlantic ports, but it must not be
forgotten those ports can take risks
which the South Atlantic ana Gulf ports
cannot. The conditions for the spread OF
yellow fever are not nearly so favorable
in the Northern as in the Southern ports,
Last summer persons we've found in New
York suffering from yellow fever who had
passed quarantine. A quarantine like
that may do for New York but 1t would
not do for this city. If persons suffering
from yellow fever should pass our quar-
antine station and get into the city there
would be at once a demand for the health
officers resignation.
New Orleans has for a year been try
ing a new system OF quarantine. which
aims at non-detention of vessels which
show no indications of infection. IL is a
very expensive system-much too expen-
sive to be adopted at this port unless the
city government is able to appropriate a
great deal more for the preservation OF
the health of the city than it now apprO-
PIRATES. But the system is only an ex-
pertinent, and 1t may be shown to be in
effective at any time. Indeed, in re-
cent pamphlet published by John NJ.
Rauch, M. D., Secretary of the Illinois
Board of Health. on Atlantic and Gulf
Quarantines," it rs shown that last sum-
mer vessel having yellow fever
patient on board was permitted
to pass the quarantine station at the
mouth of the Mississippi river without
detention, and would have reached New
Orleans il it had not been for the aeci-
dental discovery by the pilot Of the ves-
sells true condition.
Doubtless perfect system Of quaran-
tine has not yet been devised. The deten-
ton Of vessels sometimes appears unnec-
essary and arbitrary, but as there are no
means for determining with certainty
when It is safe to permit a vessel from in
fected or suspected ports to pass quaran-
tine without delay, the wisestthing to do,
probably, is TO require reasonable de-
tention.
When the,resolutions OF the Medical So
ciety are brought before the City Council
it will be urged doubtless that our quar-
antine regulations do an immense amount
OF damage toOurcommerce. Ii the Coun-
Gil consents to seriously consider the
resolutions it ought to insist upon a de-
tailed statement OF the alleged damage.
1t is easy to assert that the damage is
$40, 900, 900 or $2O,OOO,OOO annually, but it
would not perhaps be easy to show satis-
factorily that it is 100000. 1t is also
important for the Council TO know
approximately before coming 10
any decision in the matter how
large a percentage of the people Of the
city is anxious that the quarantine regu-
lations shall be less strict than they are.
II would hardly do to consult the wishes
OF few in a matter so important where
so many thousands are interested. There
ia another thing that must not be for
gotten, and that is whether more lenient
quarantine regulations wouldn't have a
bad effect upon the commerce OF the city
taken as a whole. No doubt two or three
interests would be benefited, but would
not the apprehension of danger have a
depressing effect upon other aud far
greater interestsg OF course no one will
deny that one epidemic would injure the
city and its commerce to an amount
greater by far than the amount in the way
Of benefits that would accrue TO the city
Ia half century from relaxing the
quarantine regulations. Before consent
ing TO a less strict quarantine the Council
ought to be satisfied that such a course
would not increase the risk Of an epi-
demic. ls II possible 10 satisfy the
Council IN that respecti
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