The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-16

co tlDtnlbR beluinr hil iHiNNN'' "'"nNH
"rhese are the only means oil preventing the |
spread Of this drondhn disease. Dispersal, iso-
'lation and fire are thc only rational agencies |
"ior the destruction Of yellow lever
To tho Editor Of The Appeal
Sir-These words, quoted from your
leader in this morning issue, on the treat
mcnt Of yellow fever at Jacksonville, Fla,
remind me, in their substance, in their
brief and emphatic FORM and in their sim
pie reteration, OF the most venerable, and,
in lis underlying principles, the most per-
feet sanitary code in the world-the SAM
tary enactments of the Mosaic law. Per
haps you may not deem 1t inconsistent
with your public duty, at the present
juncture. to allow me briefly, in corrobora-
ton OF your article, TO call attention to the
general provisions OF that law on this sub
! ject Of the prevention the arrest, the lin
itation and the determination Of infectious
disease.
1t may be promised that the value Of
Mosaic law, as an actual system OF juris-
prudence, has not yet been adequately
recognized, owing, doubtless, to its treat
ment chiefly by theologans from dogmat-
ic standpoint, and frequently for polemi-
cal purposes, IL has come 10 be generally
regarded ms merely local and temporary in
its character, as obligatory only upon the
chosen people, and within the narrow
confines OF tho promised land, as portion
Of that ceremonial and typical system
which was but the shadow Of better
things TO come" and which ''in the full
ness of time" vanished away, in the
clearer light and amplcd scope Of the new
economy. But this conception OF the Mo-
sale law, which ignores the fact that 1t was
intended To regulate, and for centuries
actually did regulate the entire cycle Of
national life and polity. II embraced with
in the scope OF its cognition and control
the personal conduct OF the citizens, the
domestic and social relations, the agronian
systems, the sanitary regulations, the
relief OF the poor and the administration
Of civil and criminal justice. IL was, IN
! short, the national constitution and code.
And there is no system of law, not except
ing the marvellous system bequcathed 10y
Rome, which is moro worthy Of intelligent
study.
Now Il Is n remarkable characteristic OF
Mosaic law that very large proportion oil
its provisions arc devoted TO purely n.y.
gienic aud sanitary regulations. The
health Of the individual and the commu'
nifty is the subject OF It's most constant and
anxious solicitude. OF the Gl3 injunc
tions into which the Jewish doctors divide
the law. more than one-hnli relate TO mat
, ters Of health; while Of the 52l paragraphs
Of the Mishna, aud the corresponding
chapters OF the Talmud, 2jl are devoted
to purely sanitary regulations. state
Medicine" which even among the most
enlightened OF modern nations Is little
morc than term, was with the jews Q
practical and potent reality.
To appreciate tho Mosaic code il Il
necessary To notice that, like every other
ancient and oriental code, IL is q system
OF details rather than principles. IL
juristic method is different from that o.
modern aud western systems. IL pre-
scribcs impcmtiycly what shalt and shall
not bc done In certain specified circum
stances. leaving the principles undcrlyin.
: these prescriptions Ia bc apprchcnded anJ
, | applied TO analogous circumstances whcl
they arise. II X a system Of case law.
The specific eases provided for In tn
! | written law are instances or illustration
, | Of possible cases To which, ON their emery
cncc. similar principles are 90 be- apple,
and similar action taken. Hence, in afte
ages, Jewish law, like Jesuit theology
!. naturally developed into vast and cum
. brous system Of casusry.
Now, the principle which underlios, an
:, pcryndcs, aud mods Tho whole Oi III
n sanitary cnactments Ut the Mosaic cod
Is that health Is a matter not merely Of In
diyidunl, hut OF public concern. That In
= fictitious or Contagious disease IN a subjcc
!, not merely Of individual or oi family con
Germ, hut Of public and state importance
> That, when an individual Il seized by ri
!, infectious or contagious disorder, not Onl
, IL his own life impcnllrd. but hr become
the center and sOurco OF public danger
q That his person, his clothing, his dwclin
4. aud liz furniture arr M a standing mcnac
To the public veal. An that the commt
! of which lac IN n unit have the right an
II the duty by isolation IT the patient \
n long a. danger exists and by the disinic,
ton, and u necessary, the destruction {
u his surroundings 90 secure itself again,
Il the spread OF the disease.
The law, then, In accordance with II
y method, selects aud cites lcprosy on III
o subject ior tho specific application and 9,
"a position Of these principles. What thu
discas was has never been accurately IL
= tcrmincd, even 10y physicians. In III
a scriptures Il u sometimes called 'tll
|, stroke" and sometimes the plague.
hut, at any rate, u was the most drradi,
l. aud dangcrousoi infectious diseases know
@ 10 the jewish people. The law rcgarlin
y, It's treatment Is infinitely detailed IN IN
u llG verses Of the 18th and 18th chapters
4 I.cyiticus II is unnecessary 10 cite Nh
= humorous provisions IT that Law, as the
can br read 10y your rcadcrs but the iO
u loving comprehend generally their onac
|. mcntz
/, l. Tho compulsory aud immediate notil
cation, 10 q competent public officer,
a every case Of actual or suspected inic
/. tiuus disease; OF of other unanitnry col
ditons iraught with danger 90 health.
y . The Immediate inrpcciion by such pul
II lie officer Of the afflicted individual, ,
b, Of the unsanitary articles and condition
3. In doubtful ca~,s, the total isolation
= the patient from hniily and friends, an
Of the community, for 4 period sufficient
determine whether the disorder shall n
u sumo an inirctitc ot uon.inicctiye form
ir 4. In actual casgs, tn continued and pc
n, mnncnt isOlation OF the patient. - Ion
ns the disease continues, aud conscquol
NJ danger 10 the community exists.
Il 8. ON the favorable issue ui doubtful case
-, or on recovery irom actual cases, HI
restoration of the patient to the cou
IN munity only with thc permission Of III
"A public officer, aiier luc inspection, an
!. upon compliance With certain prescribe
publications.
Il. Tho disinicctiou, aud, II requisite. N
obstruction by ire of an iniccte
A clothing and other ELECTS. aud
Th, Iis,ni,,ction aud Al necessary N