The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-06
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
National Sanitarians in Council
Are Almost Unanimously in Favor
, of Disinfection.
Pr. Cochrane, Health Officer of
"A Alabama, the Only Discomfort
Conclusions Reached as to Neoes-
sary Quarantine Work.
All the Sanitarians in Favor of Disin.
fecting Decatur, the Only Work
Needed to Inspire Public Conf
dence in the Mississippi Valley.
Special pIspatch to The Anpenl.

MONTGOMERY, Ala, March 5.-The con-
ference OF Southern Health Boards with
the Marine Hospital Service, railroad Of
fcials and sanitarians Of Western States,
who always come TO the front in affairs OF
the kind, began here this morning under
vppramising conditions. When say promis-
ing ] mean from the standpoint OF sur
prising interest. The conference was
brought about mainly by DIR. Jerome
Cochrane, State Health officer OF Alabama.
Representatives were invited from ten
Southern States, towit: North Carolina,
South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana,
Florida, Texas and also Illinois. They all
responded, Dr. John II. Rauch rep
resenting the latter State. In adj
dition, Dr. VanBibber, of Maryland, and
DIR. Vaughan, Of Michigan, are here.
Then, too, there are Surgeon General
Hamilton and Assistant Surgeons Hutton
and Burgess, Of the Marine Hospital
Service, and DR.. George NJ. Stcrnberg, Of
the regular army, numbering all together
some sevcnty.two delegates. This mum
Der will be increased tomorrow to about
100. DIR. Plunkett, President OF the State
Board OF Health, and DIR. q. B. Thornton
represent Tennessee. The Hon. ID. L.
Iladden il expected tomorrow.
The conference was temporarily organ.
lied by the election OF j. ii. Rauch us
president and Dr. +. ]. Conyneton, Of
Decatur, Ala, as secretary. One COM
mittee served the whole purpose Of fixing
the permanent officers, passing upon ere
4 lentials, outlining an order OF business
Il Ia prescribing that speeches made during
VIC sessions should not exceed ten min
uies in length, and when IL came to yea
and nay vote each State should have ten
votes.
This committee was composed Of Drs
Thompson, of Kentucky; Daniels, OF Flor
Ma; Wood. OF North Carolina; Plunked,
Of Tennessee. and Cochrane, OF Alabama.
- The permanent officers reported and
elected were;
Prcsident-Dr. @. p. Wilkinson, Lou
p-f-ana.
Vice Presidents-The Hon. d. p. Hal.
den, OF Tennessee; DR.. J. NJ. Taylor, Miss.
issippi; Mr.. J. @. Clark, Alabama; Dr.
Berkely, Georgia; Dr. VIM. Bailey, Ken
lucky; DR.. Robert Rutherford, Texas; Dr.
j. q. Porter. Florida; DIR. X. 4. Gray,
North Carolina; DIR. ]. NJ. Griffith, Illinois
Secretary. n. Mccormack, Ken.
lucky.
Assistant Secretarles-Mr. ]. Ludlow,
North Carolina; DIR. j. Is. Baird, Georgia.
In this organization Dr. Cochrane ruled
the roost. In DIR. Wilkinson the confer
ence has "A bright and capable young man,
but one who In almost, II not quite, un-
known TO the sanitary world, having be-
gun his work in louisiana about two years
ago. DIR. Plunkett Of Tennessee, or Dr..
Thornton, were deemed leaders ior the dis
tinction because both OF them are men Of
national prominence; further than this
Il was felt that Tennessee was in
the most direct line 10 receive
Il. However, she did not and the
reason Is very probably found In the fact
that Dr. Cochrane used his utmost endcay-
os for DIR. Wilkinson, showing that mis-
mind had been long made up in that di.
rcciion. Then, too there was another turn
against Tennessee In which DIR. CochrnnC
took a lively interest, DIR. Thornton re-
presenting more particularly the City Of
Memphis, although the State Board OF
Health bore only commission from the
city. In fact he did not bear this commits.
sion, for he carclessly left IL Mt home.
At the committee meeting DIR. CochanC
advocated, 10 the point Of having Il en-
grated in the report, that only the regu.
--uly commissioned delegates be entitled
!, 20 vote, all others 10 be regarded more In
Z the light of visitors, aud could exercise
!. every privilege accorded delegates except
that oi voting. Even after the report had
been read, the doctor took occasion 10 ex.
plain the point made, aud II went through
The convention without protest. For O
while II looked like Alnbama's energcti,
health officer was going 10 run everything
lie arose 10 speak on every question, ant
In n sirikingly positive way, which i'm
pressed the convention that II was q littl,
dictatorial. This, though, is rather char
actoris,ic OF DR.. Cochranc. aud he evi
IDENTIFY did not intend 10 run the machine
In that spirit
Gov Scay. who came into the hall o
the House Of Representatives, where thu
conference IL being held, was called upoi
and madcsa brief, earnest speech Of wei
come "In behalf OF the people OF Alabama
and Of Humanity. After this, DIR. Wilkin
son being on the program Tor paper OF
MARITIME Quarantine" he called DIR
Sampson, Of Charleston, 10 the chair an,
read u.
lie referred TO the quarantine Of New
Orleans, the general design Of which wa
the result of DR.. Joseph Holts faithful
efforts, took up the various chemicals use'
In disinfccting and gave Il ~ his opinion
that tune Of detention Of suspects at quar-
antino could bc reduced to three days a
against .hc generally accepted idea Of iron
ten 10 forty days
Il A running aud desuliory debate on IN
paper arose, In the midst OF which Mr.. J
&. Clark moved the appointment Of tw
committees, one on maritime the other o
inland quarantine, 10 whom all papers o.
those subjects should be referred for d
gcstion and report
Dr. Cochrane was up again aud objectc
on the ground that M he understood
plan had been formulated and agreed /
on which 10 conduct the proceedings. II
thought discussion should be preliminar
as enabling those on one committed aRhic
he deemed sufficient, 10 act more 1ntell
gently.
Dr. Austin, of louisiana, said he III
not understand Mr. Clafk's motion