The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-11
Is q National Quarantine Needed,

The question as to whether a national
discussed in different parts Of the
country. Il is asserted that state boards
of health are not equal to the de-
| mAnds which a condition Of affairs such
as exists at present makes upon them. There
is truth in this assertion. 1t has been
claimed that the New York quarantine is
far superior 10 any other in this country in
so far as its facilities for taking care OF a
large number of persons afflicted With an
infectious or contagious disease is con-
cerned, bus is has been demonstrated
already that It Is not prepared at all for
the emergency which It has been
called upon to meet. 10 may have
quarters for several thousand cholera
patients, but 10 has no accommodations for
passengers on cholera infected ships. The
500 cabin passengers Of the Normannla
were kept on that ship a whole week, and
would be there yet II public sentiment had
not demanded their removal 20 safer
place. The cholera was slowly spreading
through the ship and doubtless would have
aoon attacked them.
1t is true that the governor OF New
York has authorized she health officers at
quarantine 70 spare no expense IN dong
whatever seems necessary TO be done 70
check the spread OF the disease and keep 1t
out Of the country, but as a matter OF fact
nothing was done for days 10 keep IL from
spreading on the infected ships. The SICK
and the dead were removed, but those who
were well ought also to have been removed |
TO another vessel Immediately on their ar
rival at quarantine, or put into camp at an
isolated place.
II there had been national board of |
health. IL is by no means certain that 1t |
would have been prepared to do more than
the New York quarantine officer has done.
When there was a national board of health |
there was complaint that 10 did nothing but
spend it's appropriation in sending out
worthless bulletins and paying salaries to
officials who rendered no service. There
was some foundation for this complaint.
Congress thought the national board was a
useless institution and abolished it, but at
he same time 1t enlarged the powers of the
marine hospital service.
Instead OF creating a national board OF
health would it not be advisable to give
more power and larger appropriation to
he marine hospital servicel That institu-
ion can be made to do all that a national
BOARD could do, and 1t is already well organ
zed.
Owing to q lack of authority in the
national government to take entire charge
OF quarantine matters there will be great
heal of unnecessary interference with COM
merce and travel II cholera should get a
Judgment In the country. State health
boards would exercise their authority In
many annoying ways. These boards, act
ing independently Of each other, would
about bring the business OF the country to a
standstill
The experience the country is now having
will draw public attention TO the necessity
for legislation to meet condition Of affairs
like that which now exists, or may exist in
the near future. If congress oould have
foreseen that greedy steamship companies
would fill New York harbor with ships
laden with cholera infected Immigrants It
would probably have given the President
authority to close our ports to all immi-
grants as long as the cholera prevailed in
Europe, but nobody thought the dreaded
disease would get out of Russia, If indeed,
much thought was given to the matter at all.