Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-19
THE GRIP EPIDEMIC,
Facts in Regard to the Disease in surgeo
General Hamilton's Report-Other Matters

FACTS In Regard to the Disease In Surgeon
General Hamilton's Report-Other Matters.
The annual report of Surgeon General
Hamilton Of the marine hospital service, just
submitted to the Secretary Of the Treasury.
contains special description of the origin,
cause and termination of the grip epidemic,
and attention, with a note of warning, is called
to the epidemic of cholera which has prevailed
so extensively in Asia Minor. Persia and Spain,
and which still exists in Japan. No epidemic
Of yellow fever has been reported, but the
surgeon general states that the United States
would be the gamer even in a pecuniary sense
il it were to donate to the Cuban government
sufficient funds to make Havana healthy
seaport. Yellow fever is almost always present
in Havana and Rio Janeiro and those cities
could be made healthy If proper measures were
taken They are a standing menace to the
health of the United States. Smallpox has
been reported on the Mexican frontier. and by
request of the California state board an in
spector has been appointed at the Mexican
frontier.
FIELD HOSPITAL SERVICE.
As showing the extent of the field Of the hos
pital service the surgeon general recommends
a new hospital to be built at Sitka, Alaska, and
reports the temporary establishment of a foat-
ing hospital in the Chesapeake bay for the re-
lief of the oyster dredgers.
The report calls attention to the fact that
late in the fiscal year the government assumed
the duty of immigrant inspection at New York
city and that the marine hospital service was
charged with the medical inspection of the i'm
migrants An emergency hospital has been
fitted mp at the barge office and it is expected
In short time. says the report. that hospital
and an insane asylum for the immigrant service
will be established upon Ellis Island by the
Treasury Department.
TO PREVENT IEPRosY
In accordance with the recommendations of
the American Public Health Association cir
cular, having for its object the prevention of
the Introduction of leprcsy into the United
States, was issued. 1t requires all vessels to
produce certificate from the proper officer
showing freedom from this disease before being
permitted to make entry. A notable event in
the history OF sanitary legislation, says the re-
port, Was the passage by Congress of the inter-
state quarantine law. approved March %, 1890.
which gives the supervising surgeon general OF
the marine hospital service authority to pre-
pare rules and regulations necessary to prevent
the spread of cholera. yellow fever, smallpox
or plague from one state to another. No action
has yet been required under the law, but should
a serious epidemic occur Its existence will sim
pity the management of the epidemic and pre-
vent complications heretofore encountered.
LABORATORY WORK.
The report of work done in the hygienic and
archaeological laboratory at New York en-
braces Investigations into the causes of ma
larial and other fevers, microscopical exami-
nations Of numerous pathological specimens,
and also of drinking water sent to the labora-
tory for that purpose, the causes OF pneumonia,
experimental investigation of the effects of low
temperatures upon micro-organisms and in
designations into the merits OF the cobra virus
as a remedy for cholera. In the bacteriologi-
cal laboratory, which is located at the quaran-
tine station ON the Dry Tortugas for the special
investigation of the cause OF yellow fever and
supplied with the most recent and complete
scientific instruments and appliances, special
work OF this nature has been carried on by one
officer OF the service, the results of which are
still tentative. 1t Is recommended that the
laboratory at New York be moved to Washing
ton and combined with the chemical laboratory
now connected with the bureau.