Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29

OF rags to this country are made under In
spection by its officers. They come largely
from Marseilles, which is the great ragshop
of Europe, where they are collected from
all over the Continent, and even from the
cholera-stricken districts of Asia 1t is
credibly asserted that some of them are
actually the clothing of defunct pilgrims
killed by the disease. However, no rags
from Marseilles are permitted to enter
port of the United States without certif-
cate showing that they have been previously
unbaled and boiled for an hour, or else
subjected to steam or sulphurous gas
This regulation will soon be extended to
rags from Ghent, and eventually to such
merchandise from all Europe.
Smallpox threatens at all seasons, par
ticularly from China; bat such effective
methods have been adopted for its preven-
tlon and extirpation wherever it appears
that 1t is not greatly feared.
A Wholesale Vaccination.
Last winter there was an epidemic of this
disease in Canada. Medical inspectors
were placed at Detroit and Port Huron, and
all passengers from the infected districts
who crossed the borders into the United
States by train were vaccinated or sent
back, unless they could show certificates of
vaccination. All the vaccine used by the
Marine Hospital service is obtained from a
farm near Washington, which is devoted
exclusively to the manufacture of this
product from young heifers scientifically
inoculated.
The last Congress made law providing
for Interstate quarantine. In case of an
epidemic anywhere, the Surgeon General
in charge of the Marine Hospital Bureau is
permitted to promulgate such regulations
as he may deem requisite, subject to the
approval of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Consumption, typhoid fever, dipntheria.
scarlet fever and measles are left to the
attention of State and local health authori-
ties
Recent discoveries in bacteriology have
made quarantine methods scientific. In
stead Of the once usual 40-day period of
detention for infected vessels, the latter are
only stopped long enough to put them
through the disinfecting processes which
have been ascertained to be sufficient to
destroy the germs of disease. On Chande-
leur Island more than 80 ships found in
fected with yellow fever were dealt with
last summer.
A Chancs for Young Physicians. .-
The Marine Hospital Bureau provides
free medical attendance for every Ameri-
can seaman who wants it. Formerly it was
maintained bv q tax of from 20 to 40 cents a
month on the wages of sailors, but in 1871
Congress took the service out of the con-
troll of the various collectors OF customs and
placed it under the Treasury Department.
The medical officers receive their appoint
ments direct from the President. Any
graduate in medicine not over 80 years old
nor under 81 is eligible. However, the ex-
medical and physical, is so ex-
acting that of 24 applicants who appeared
before the Examining Board the other day
only five passed, and there is but one va
cancy at present Successful candidates are
placed on the eligible list, from which ap-
are made when vacancies occur
On receiving his appointment, the young
physician becomes an assistant surgeon at
81, 500 year, with quarters, fuel and lights
furnished, and is assigned to one of the
marine hospitals. Promotions to the sue
ceeding grades of passed assistant surgeon
and full surgeon, with amply increased
come with length of service.
Officers cannot be removed except for good
cause.
How the Bureau Is Supported.
The operations of the bureau extend all
over the United States. It owns and con-
trolls 20 hospitals on the sea coast and
lakes, and has contracts with $50 local hos
pitfalls where seamen are admitted and
treated by Its own surgeons. Any Ameri-
can sailor who has served 90 days 1s en-
titled to treatment when sick and is cared
for until he RECEIVERS. Sailors attached to
foreign ships may be admitted to the hos
pitals on certifcation by their Consuls, but
are charged 81 day. More than $4,000
seamen are taken care of annually in these
institutions. The expenses of the bureau
are paid by the tonnage taxes on foreign
vessels, but Congress makes special ap-
preparation for the support of the quaran-
tine system. Apart from that the service
costs about $500, 900 year.
The bureau examines all applicants for
the Life Saving Service and for employment
by the Revenue marine, which is small i
navy attached to the Treasury. Also it |
tests every pilot for color blindness before q
license is issued. 1t is very important that
4 pilot shall be able to distinguish red |
light from green one The corps includes /
I5 surgeons, 20 passed assistant surgeons, 1s
assistant surgeons, 70 acting assistant sur
,eons and 20 hospital stewards.
RENE BACHE