The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-24
PRACTITIONERS TALK.
What New York Medical Men Say
About Cholera.
A VISITATION TO BE DREADED.
The General Opinion seems To De 'ha'
Immigration should be suspended and
by All Means National Quarantine
should be Established

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2i.-The joint COM
mittee OF the two Houses OF Congress
charged with the investigation OF immi-
grafton, recently addressed to physicians
OF prominence in New York and else
where questions regarding the possibility
of visitation of cholera in the spring or
summer of 1893 and also regarding the
measures connected with immigration
that should be adopted to prevent the
introduction of the plague. The commit
tee has received replies from nine leading
medical practitioners Of New York city,
Ind one from Chicago.
DIR. Joseph Il. Winter OF New YORK says
there Is a decided apprehension in the
minds of physicians that there VIII be
visitation OF cholera in the spring, unless
means are taken TO prevent H. lie pe,
1ieves immigration should be suspended
for year or even longer.
Charles q. Wilson, president OF the
board OF health OF the city OF New YORK,
fears visitation during the coming spring
and summer unless stringent measures
are adopted He recommends inspection
at foreign ports by medical officers repre-
senting the United States government and
subseuuent inspection on arrival at Amer
Jean ports, with proper disinfection, etc.
Uhe suspension of immigration Tor one
year would, he thinks, lessen, but not en-
tirely remove,
the Danger to This Country.
DIR. w. A. Ewing of New York suggests
that the popular apprehension OF danger
may arise from the dormant germs already
here, as we'll as from fresh importations.
The chief danger, however, he believes,
lies In the immigrant and his luggage.
He Is opposed to general suspension OF
immigration, as il Is unnecessary II as
sisted immigration is prohibited. The
quarantine regulations OF this country,
should be, he says, under national super
vision.
DIR. +. Shrady Of New York asserts that
our safety lies in establishing a national
quarantine and in suspending all immi-
grafton for reasonable period-say one
year.
DIR. A. Loomis OF the same city believed
the suspension of immigration would
avert immediate danger.
DIR. Lewis A. Sayre OF New York says
there will be no danger II the whole coun-
try is properly quarantined. He recon-
mends thorough cleansing and disinfec-
tion OF baggage and isolation of steerage
passengers for at least Ave days before
tai ing passage. with proper inspection at
ports Of arrival and disinfection of pas
sengers, ship and cargo. He thinks it adj
visable to suspend Immigration from in
fected ports for limited period.
DR.. Joseph ID. Bryant, medical commits
sioner OF the health board of New York,
apprehends visitation OF cholera next
year. The danger can be met by compe-
tent surveillance of immigrants and their
effects, or by exclusion for proper time
OF the immigrants themselves.
DIR. Cyrus Edison, sanitary superinten-
dent OF New York believes, should re-
ports from northern Europe prove relia-
BILE, that we must expect
severe Epidemssssext Spring.
He suggests that immigrants should be
examined and isolated for period and
disinfected at the port of embarkation, or
that immigration should be carefully re-
stricted.
Or. stephen Smith, connected with the
New York board of health during the
Cholera epidemic of 1867, thinks the pesti-
leuee will spread from Europe and be
more disastrous in 1898 than 1t was last
year, IL traffic and travel from Europe
continues Unrestricted. He urges an ef-
fective, scientific quarantine and says re-
strictive measures should be enforced
against the steamship companies.
DIR. Janeway OF the medical advisory
board of the New York Chamber of Com
merce, favors suspension for one year of
immigration, but points to danger from
Canada. South America and the West In
dies. He recommends quarantine stations
at the point of departure of immigrants
under control Of the United States gov
eminent.
DIR. Elmer Lee OF Chicago, who studied
the disease in Russia, last autumn, thinks
the danger OF great epidemic in America
is remote and recalls the fact that cleans
ing the bowels with a solution OF SOAP
and water praoticed at the beginning o
the disease proved successful in 81 pc
cent of the cholera cases treated In st
Petersburg. He suggests quarantine o
immigrants before embarkation for a
least Ave days, further detention for lik'
period at domestic quarantine stations
and the observation of the greatest clean
liness With these precautions he feels ]
unnecessary, even with cholera aboar'
ship, to detain passengers.