Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-01
YELLOW FEVER.
The State Board of Health Takes Com.
mendable Action.

DR.. G G. Tyrrell, Secretary OF the State
Board OF Health, and Dr. W. r. Cluness.
one OF its members, went to San Francisco
Saturday where & special meeting was
held in the afternoon. The object of the
meeting was to consider what precautions
might be advisable to prevent the yellow
fever from being brought into the State by
those fleeing from the infected regions.
The advlsability of holding the meeting
had been suggested by Governor Water
man, who had also promised to back up
the Board TO the full extent of his author
lty IN any action which they might deter
mine TO be proper.
Dr. Cluness said that he believed that it
was quite possible for the disease to reach
California, and if it did the result might be
serious. He believed that in various por-
tons OF the State conditions existed which
We're favorable to the generation of the
germ. Wherever there was q malarisl ten
dency there was a chance for yellow fever
to secure foothold. He did not believe,
however, that yellow fever would ever
originate here, but il would certainly spread
If once introduced.
Dr. TyTrell and Dr. Simpson indorsed
DR.. Cluness' opinions and the latter sug-
gested that some immediate action should
be taken. In the event Of the disease gain
Ing foothold here the State Board of
Health would undoubtedly receive all the
blame. There would be no excuse for non
action, for $4,000 of the $4,000 appropri-
ated by the last Legislature for sanitary
emergencies was as yet unexpended and
was available.
DIR. Sawtelle, Health Officer Barger and
others expressed similar views.
DR.. Huse, however, seemed inclined to
think the danger not so serious. He under
| stood that the railroad companies had
already ceased selling tickets from the in
iected districts in the South to California
ana IN any case persons attempting to
make the trip would have to run the CANT
let OF all the intervening towns, the author
lies of most of which were very sensitive
10 anything like the possibility of infection
and would be apt to do all they could to
| stop travel. People fleeing from Florida
and Georgia would also be much more in
| ciined, he thought, to go North to the
frosty latltudes of New York, which could
be reached in forty eight hours.
There was also an economic view which
should be taken of the case A groundless
| scare could easily be created and might
seriously interfere with the flood of immi-
grafton expected this winter. A n ToWne,
OF the Southern Pacific Railroad had in
formed him that the indications were that
| the next few months would see a volume
OF travel in this direction exceeding any,
thing ever known before.
DR.. Huse suggested that instead of ap.
pointing inspectors to meet and combat the
disease at our very doors it might be better
to establish lookout" on the trains at
El Paso, who could do effsc!iye work at a
distance.
A motion was finally adopted to the
effect that TO prevent the entrance of infec-
tlous disease into the State the Board of
Health should appoint competent medi-
Cal inspector, it being understood THAI his
duties should be as already indicated.
The salary of the inspector was fixed at
$3.50 per month, exclusive of his necessary
expenses.
On motion, S. S. Herrick, Assistant Sec
rotary of the City Board of Health. was ap-
pointed to the newly created position.
1he following telegram was received
duilng the session of the Board from Gov
ernor Waterman:
Report states that two carloads of me-
groes are en- route from Georgia. Quaran-
tine them somewhere"
A reply was Immediately dispatched ask
ing The Governor by what route the negroes
were coming, that proper measures might
be taken, after which the meeting ad-
journed.