The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-09
DIR. JOSEPH HOLT.
HIS OPINIONS WITH REGARD TO A
NATIONAL HEALTH BUREAU.
The Eminent Sanitarian and Physician
Who. of All Men, Is Most qualified to
Speak, lndorses tho Proposition EN-
phatically and Unreservedly.

phatically and Unreservedly.
To the Editor OF The Aprcal
SlR-Iour letter. with several Others OF
recent date relative to the proposed bureau
of health, have been received, and among
them is one each from DIR. J. Berrien
Lindsey, Nashville, and DIR. James +,
Reeves, Chattanooga.
Uniformity of thought and action in the
administration of health affairs, made pos
sible only through representative ma
tional bureau, especially provided, has
been for years the ideal of sanitary eh-
cheney and its establishment the unani-
nous purpose of santarians throughout
the United States. II was the burden OF
the presidential address OF DIR. James T.,
Reeves before the American Public Health
Association in Washington, 1885.
Whatever doubts may have existed MS
TO its feasibility, theexperiences OF the past
summer have conclusively demonstrated
the need Of such guiding and harmonic.
ing authority, against which none OF the
alleged objections to the former National
Board OF Health" can DO raised
The bureau, as contemplated in the bill
for its establishment is founded upon the
experimental legislation creating the Ma
tional Board, proiiting by experience in
carefully avoiding reasonable grounds OF
adverse criticism and oiIense.
With firm but prudent administration
Of its affairs this bureau could unite in
itself and fairly represent the health inter.
ests Of all the States, preserving from pau.
les and unnecessary guarantees their com.
mercial relations, while enforcing rational
measures for protection, instructing, aid.
ing and sustaining local authorities, and
by a judicious and conservative course
could create precedent and presently cs-
tablish itself upon solid basis Of public
confidence, without which any national Of.
tort must be failure.
beg that you will not consiruc these re-.
marks as suggestive or uttered obtrusivcly,
but rs intended to indicate precisely the
views enterlnincd6y myself As one Of those
who have long given ardent support 10
this benciicent aud important measure.
For my own part ! can see no hope for
the assured aud uninterrupted prosperity
OF the country, particularly the Atlantic
HNANNAlN anu Aiif tTWAlllt NN NNNllE u Nifli
recurring summer brings menace of dis.
aster, 10 meet which there is no concert OF
action. As to the Gull States. adding To
the perplcXity and danger OF the situa-
ton ia the future the frenzy OF excitement
aud chaos Of business which prevailed
throughout tie entire south last summer.
wiped out Of existence The last yestgc ol
mutual respect and confidence seeming 10
exist heretofore between communities and
among states concerning acknowledgements
and usually irresponsible methods, 30
called, remarkable in the main for
chcapncss and disregard OF science. cX-
ccpting Louisiana, there is not one OF
the scaboarl States whose quaranlinCs
would bear u strictly scientific Inspection;
and the public mind. conscious oTfhc dan
gcTous exposure, and remembering the ter.
rible scenes OF last summer, is In ncr.
vous condition, ready, upon the slightest
friction, for tie explosion Of panic.
Such state Of mind, unsettled and full
OF anxious forcboding, is not only distress.
INK, but mischicyous IA It's paraly wing effect
upon the industrial aud commercial growth
Of the country.
There IL M power but the National Gov.
crnmcnt competent 10 remedy, being the
only channel through which the States can
operate in adjudicating sanitary and com
mcfcial interrsts-sO often in violent con-
ilct and through which uniformity OF
scientific methods eau be secured aud
general feeling OF safety aud confidence
restored; all ol which can DO accomplished
through National Bureau Of Health"
without infringing upon or IN any manner
impairing thc police power or other pre-.
rogaiiyc OF the State.
Unless n remedy Is provided. aud that
speedily, the maritime States " the Union
must remain continually exposed 10 wave.
81 pcsiilcntial invasion, such as threatened
New York aud the entire country with
cholera last year and the South with ycl.
lOw fever q few months since.
The importance Of this question, hardly
second a. that oi coast defence against hus.
tile fleets, compcls the attention of every
citizen. and especially Of myself a. for.
mcr health officer aud ~ n member Of the
American Public Health Association, a
brotherhood OF sanitarians. WHOSE Nilsson
Is 81 preach the gospel Oi preventive med
icinc." 10 prevent aud not 20 cure pre-.
vuntablc diseases II Is my duty, there
fore. o. a citizen aud NJ member 81 q
great public health association, 10 add my
help in holding up the hands Of those
statesmen Who are advocating in Congress
the bill Tor q national bureau IT health.
The national development has made i'm.
pcmiivc the CREATION OF this bureau ~ the
representative Of the sanitary interests Of
the entire country, oqualizing between
States differences pecipitatcd ia the mat
ter Of quarantine aud commerce, directing
anl giving force a. olufts for the eXclu.
sion IN suppression Of pcs,iloncc, uuicting
public apprehension aud insuhng unOb.
structcd "iull play To science in the de-
parimcnt Of preventive medicine, Tor the
preservation Of health aud development Of
wealth, which constitute State aud ma
lonal prosperity. Yours very tFuly,
Justrn Hour, MD.
Portland, Ore, Dec. -.
" "
v. "a. a. a. Gospel Meeting.
The Young Mems Christian Associa.