New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-09
DIR. SHAKESPEARE'S VIEWS.
AN ARGUMENT FOR NATIONAL CONTROL OF THE
QUARANTINE AT ALL FRONTIERS

AN ARGUMENT FOR NATIONAL CONTROL OF IhE
QUARANTINE. AT ALL FRONTIERS.
This weeks number OF The Medical News OIL
Philadelphia t. be published tomorrow, VIII coi'nl
u numb"r CT important articles on the suo!co' vi
Asiatic cholera; among them one by the eminent
authority Dr. L. q. Shakespeare, from "iho' ''i'
following extracts are taken:
1t is II fact hey Ond dispute that cholera preys upon
and breeds among those living in squal0r ana h h,
and closely follows their movement Ihelv - ~, ~.
little danger OF the class OF people who colsututc tic
cabin Passengers Of the transatlantic steamers one
ing with them, either Oh their persons Or III, ~ r
son that hod most confidently that the chie anu
may say, tile only source OF danger 81 choe iarn,
Ing foohold when inspection Is properly PciVi,,, ,
III Quarantine, Hes III its Introduction by inc oe '''
classes. ,.o,,.so 90
Inc establishment of policy OF non-inercourse, so
far emigration Is concerned during tne .'',. ,d a.
Europe is suffering from cholera epidemic, "V.u, III
my opinion constitute the best, ana perhaps te Only
of safeguarding the general public Iron oc cao
ravages OF this disease. have repeatedly l.t a,
sion, in several publications and in comnluiciosss "
time to time TO point ont the dangerous sc W y, nn
perfection, my personal knowledge known 10 IN "a
ISL in several OF the Atlantic quarantine stations; LA
ports Of Boston, Philadelphia and Balunoc , MVuiu
certainly In their establishments and In ther nhi,eu
corps Of administration be unable TO cope ho
FULLY for any long period, with an invasion 'i -;
the emlgrant classes VINO are aowea ~ cboInra in
Europe to our shores. Even the Quarantine s I,,
at Aewl ork-whch is the best most ooplSttiI
equipped and best administered Of all our quathn,inr
stations with the frequent arrival OF Ir
stesneTs Carrying ae%'eH nnH be "overwced
unless we adopt the policy OF long uetc c o,,a
travellers ships and cargocs policy when %o ar
involve tremendous loss TO those engaged III ' hi
time trade or I'm any manner associated In bnsihcss
way, directly indirectly with maritime conlerc re-,
The capacity OF the Now-Iork quarantine station WIZ
be reached for PURPOSES OF safe defence with the iau-
Ing Of, say, 900 infected emigrants u can a DC
readily how soon with an uninterrupted sure"n,
Of migrants from infected localities the capacity OF
this, our best quarantine station, would DC uAcu ~
In nv opinion the action Of tho Presl-
dent in attempting to suspend nmgrato', 1--WE ,wnniv
DAYS IS wise procedure. and perhaps the Ohly one
that could be adopted under the present crcus,hre
which would reasonably insure this country asaihht
an invasion Of cholera Tle placing OF an embargo on
immigration only would undoubtedly be the most oil,
rect means of accomplishing this desirable result ana
ments 10 the course Of trade involved III tie Gs W.
stIictons upon the movements OF travellers
who are but little likely TO introduce the Infection
II is needless point out that with the ships lhho
itants limited the and the cabin passengers Ger
tainy the quarantine station OF New York, IN us PTS
ent preparation, could be safely relied upon 10 sual
the country against the Introduction Of cholera through
that port. The present arrangements that have been
adopted and placed in operation al me quuai,ine
stations OF Boston Philadelphia and Baltimore, imper-
feet these In establishment would also be III no
danger OF being overwhelmed by the e1genees OF the
THE NEED OF A NATIONAL QUARANTINE
The rdicuously antiquated. obsolete and maze maze
time quarantine stations, ana tue apparent ilhPosr
bllty, except perhaps, when confronted win ener
the present, OF obtaining Appropriations
from local authorities OF sufficient sums of money Tor
the erection of extensive and complete Quarantine -
accurate knowledge OF the nature ana ode OF spienu
and Of prevention OF the infectious diseases,
further and, 10 my mind, incon'fovcr'lpie asohs
why the general public cannot rely upon me deiene d.
independent local quarantnes Of the whole country
against the Introduction of the common epidclO MS
eases, much less Of epidemics OF cholca.
In this connection the question may ne very peru,
nently asked Wny ,he sH y,a uy comnr defence
against The nrosds Of foreign diseases any more than
against invasons Of foreign foes he assumed ana borne
by those municipalities or stalcs mat happen TO nav
maritime location Why shonld the vast mh0uN
located inland be allowed TO Sa ,ee'T s
OF affairs which closely concern them Tie prp
lection OF the public health by maritime quarantine j.
matter that Interests not merely narrow pet OF sea
coast IL seriously concerns the whole OF the Nast
In View Of the foregoing conside ations would up
hold the following propositions ,,.o..,,,no
(a) The present methods OF independent qunrnnnne
provided and regulated by soahoad states or ct's are
essentially defective and insufficient for the exclusion
rom the United states Of the diseases against which
m II is impossible adequately TO protect the pub
lie health OF tho country against the importation OF
epidemic diseases by independent local maritime quar-
antinc establishments. T.
(c) A National system Of maritime quarantine IS
ID 4 National organization would secure advan.
tages not attanable by INDEPENDENT ioc" QUARANTINE
establishments. however complete
PROTECTING THE CANADIAN FRONTIER.
The danger from Immigrants would not be en-,
nrely banshed. however though the qnhrahnxnc a., -,
the coast OF the lNltSu STATES "'Io p'A'''b
wav through the British Provinces would sun bc
omen 20 these travellers. In the absence OF cmclcht
ouarantne Inspection In tie 81. Lawrence River, me
attempt thoroughly TO protect ourselves ifnhl III
portatons OF cpdcmics would neces>iiae the doupuI
md difficult podent ~ land quarantine along our
northern frontier Tho more efficient plan woh' I've
have the snme precautions taken at me po',s ~
the British Provinces should be practscd NJ lhvc
I'm the United states: but this course co'h only pc
assured through treaty, which our local authorities
are not competent 10 make . - -,
II appears that Canadian nelghbors nave al
ready evinced their desire for uniform quarantine
laws for the two Governments. The Provincial b.aW
of Health Of Montreal recognizing community OF IN
trrest In the question Of maritime quarantine deemed
Inc presence Of the Canadian Fish Commissioners IN
Washington opporune for the adoption Of resolutions
requesting them TO urge upon the American authorizes
the necessity OF establishing Uniform quarantine
regulations for both countries" In connection with
an ~nicicnt system OF National quarantine harmony
In the provisions Of law In the United States and
In Canada indispensable for the fun protection
OF orr extensive frontier, and our National Govern
ment should bo strongly urged 10 respond actively
10 The expressed wishes OF the Canadian authorities
relating TO such an important matter Of common In
tercst