Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-28

establishments on remote islands, whittier ships
are taken for cleaning and scientific dis
infection and where there are hospitals.
One Of these stations Is on the
Dry Tortngas, thirty miles from land 1t
includes complete meteorological laboratory,
and is in charge of an expert medical officer
who Is making special investigation respecting
the nature Of yellow fever, which is thought to
be produced by another variety Of those inter.
esting vegetable parasites called ''bacteria. "
Any craft arriving at a southern port and found
to be infected is sent by the local authorities to
the nearest 'fsland Of refuge" where she is
filed with sulphur fumes, her woodwork is
washed with bichloride Of mercury and the bed
ding Of the crew il put through a steaming
process in disinfecting chambers before she Is
| let go.
The marine hospital service is sort of fed
eral health board. 1t looks out for the sanitary
condition of the country at large without inter-
fering with the functions of state and local au-
thorlties. Maintaining communication with
United States consuls all over the globe. it
keeps watch on diseases everywhere. publish
| ing weekly report respecting the health and
mortality Of every big city in the world. I'M
portations Of rags to this country are made
under inspection by its officers. They come
| largely from Marseilles. which is the great rag
chop OF Europe, where they are collected from
all over the continent, and even from the
cholera-stricken districts Of Asia. 1t is credbly
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 certificate showing that they have
been previously INHALED and boiled for an
hour, or else subjected to steam or sulphurous
acid gas. This regulation will soon be extended
to rags from Client and eventually to such
merchandise from all Europe.
DANGER FROM SMALLPOX
Smallpox threatens at all seasons, particularly
Pro, brxae
been adopted for its prevention and extirpation
wherever it appears that it is not greatly feared
Last winter there was an epidemic Of this dis
ease 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 we're
vaccinated or sent back. unless they could show
certificates Of vaccination. All the vaccine used
by the marine hospital service is obtained from
farm near Washington, which is devoted ex-
ciusively to the manufacture of this product
from young heifers scientifically inoculated
The last Congress made law providing for in
terstate quarantine. In case of an epidemic
| anywhere the surgeon general in charge of the
marine hospital bureau is permitted to promul-
gate snch regulations he may deem requi-
site. subject to the approval of the Secretary
OF the Treasury. Consumption, typhoid fever
dlphtheria, scarlet fever and measles are
left to the attention of state and local health
|
have made quarantine methods scientific In
stead OF the once usual forty-day period of de-
tentlon for infected vessels. the latter are only
stopped long enough to put them through the
disinfecting processes which have been ascer-
tanned to be sufficient to destroy the germs of
disease. The wonderful character Of the work
accomplished by the system in operation may
be feebly conceived by considering the fact that
at the single station on Chandelier Island more
than fifty ships found infected with yellow fever
were dealt with last summer
THE MARINE HOSPITAL BUREAU
Considering the importance of this arm of
the government it seems surprising how little
knowledge is bad by the general public respect
ing the marine hospital bureau and its work.
Among other things it provides free medical
attendance for every American seaman who
wants It, Formerly it was maintained by tax
OF from 2U to 40 cents a month on the wages of
sailors, but in 1871 Congress took the service
out OF the control of the various collectors of
customs and placed it under the Treasury De-
partment. The medical officers receive their
appointments direct from the President ANY
graduate in medicine not over thirty years old
nor under twenty-one is eligible. However,
the examination, medical and physical is so ex-
acting that OF twenty-four applicants who ap-
Peared before the examining board the other
day only five passed and there is but one vacancy
at present. Successful candidates are placed
oh INC cilSIDlc Hst. from WHICH appointments
are made when vacancies occur. On receiving
his appointment the young physician becomes
an assistant surgeon, at 81 800 q year, with
quarters fuel and lights furnished and is as
signed to one Of the marine hospitals Pro-
motions to the succeeding grades Of passed as
s1stant surgeon and full surgeon, with amply
increased emoluments, come with length of
service. Officers cannot be removed except for
good cause.
The operations Of the bureau extend all over
the United States. 1t owns and conducts
twenty hospitals on the sea-coasts and lakes,
and has contracts with $50 local hospitals where
seamen are admitted and treated by its own
surgeons. Any American sailor who has served
sixty days is entitled to treatment when sick
and il cared for until he RECEIVERS. Sailors at
tached to foreign ships may be admitted to the
hospitals on certification by their consuls. but
are charged 81 day. More than 10000 sea-
men are taken care Of annually in these insti-
buttons. The expenses of the bureau are paid
BY the tonnage taxes on foreign vessels, but
Congress makes special appropriation for the
support OF the Quarantine system. Apart from
that the service costs about 5000, 600 year.
The bureau examines all applicants for the life
saving service and for employment by the
revenue marine, which is a small navy at
tached to the Treasury. Also 1T tests every
pilot for color blindness before q license is
Issued. 1t is very important that pilot shall
be able to distinguish a green light from a red
one. The corps includes fifteen surgeons,
twenty passed assistant surgeons, eighteen as
s1stant surgeons, seventy-nine acting assistant
surgeons and twenty hospital stewards.