The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-23
DEATH DEALING CHOLERA.
Important Conference 10 Prevent Its
Landing in America.
QUARANTINE RULES ADOPTED.
A Station a be Located at the Entrance to
Narragansett Bay-Rules Relating tn
the Detention OF Infected Vessels and
Their Passengers

DIR. Charles II. Fisher. Sc cretary of the
state board of health, mas returned from
Washington, where he has been attend
ing the conference Of medical men held
TO formulate quarantine rules and regu-
lations, supplementary to the treasury
department rules previously existing
Que delegate was present from each OF
the following states: Is,
Rhode Island, New York. New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina. South Carolina, Florida. Louis
lana and Mississippi. Five surgeons who
mad been connected with the quarantine
service were also present
DR.. William T. JenNins, health officer
OF the port of New York, attended the
conference as tue delegate from his state.
When congress passed ths quarantine
bill last winter the treasury department
appointed Surgeon General Walter Wy
man of the Marine hospital service TO
take charge of its enforcement.
he recognized the task before him and
called the conference. which was held
Thursday, Friday and Saturday OF last
week in the Butler building, Washing
ton.
DR. Fisher said to News reporter
that although the south wing OF ,he
capitol was opposite the Butler building
he did not get chance to visit it or an
opportunity to visit any OF the govern
ment buildings. All the time was taken
up by the consideration OF the rules and
regulations.
Rules under these heads were consid-
cred: % Location. and ,qupmsnt of
auarantine stations; CD inspection Of
yssseS tins 90 ,dIsrs treatment int.,a IN quaran.
az passenger detention; 6) dis
Injection OF vessels: 90 dislnfection
OF cargo; "a treatment Of ballast: (S)
treatment ot rags and other old Jextile
fabrics, Jute, etc, from infected locai-
ties; W) treatment OF vessels Infected
When the first subject was considered
DR.. Fisher made "A statement of affairs in
this state, anu put forth a claim Tor
Quarantine station on
The Rhode Island Coast.
1t was deemed desirable to place a
station at or near the entrance of Nara
gansett bay.
Two of the articles prepared are of
special interest, because they relate to
the treatment In quarantine of cholera
Injected vessels and TO the detention OF
passengers.
Last summer when the Roumania was
detained a. quarantine because she bore
as passenger the grim cholera, there
time That the passengers should be kept
aboard, and the way they should he
treated. These two rules settle this
question. They are as follows:
TREATMENT IN QUARANTINE OF CHOLERA IN
Article UI-1. Remove all persons from the
vessels save thoss necessary 20 . for her Place
the sack IN hospital. ana carefully isolate thoss
g,oup wherever It is pract cable Those believed
10 be especially capable of conveying Infection
ana furnished with sterile coth,ng, nor should any
material capable OF conveying injection be taken
into the barracks, especially food.
2. Al once proceed with the dlsinfection OF the
hand bag age. ana where practicable bathe those
3. II cnoiera has occurred in the steerage all oc-
cupants thereof must be bathed.
A. All baggage OF steerage passengers not pre-
vi usiy dls.nIeeted or any baggage ilat may have
been exposed 10 Infection must be disnfected
Infection must be dsinIected.
An living apartments, and furniture and such
convey Infection snail be dIsinfected.
Detention Of Passengers.
Article Iv-l. The people detained shall be In
speced by a ply sielan twice a day, ana no inter-
while In quarantine.
S @ In any group IN which cholera may appear the
the remaining per- ons IN me group shall again
g.: After i've days from the last exposure to in
have developed may be released from quarantine
after final dsinfection of clothing.
T. The water and food supply viii be strictly
guarded TO prevent contamination.
The Importance of this conference
cannot be uuderestimated. Every
budget Of news from abroad brings
the tidings that cholera has not
been entirely suppressed Sporadic
cases are frequently reported and
with the approach of the summer the
danger of repetition of the
plague increases. The number who
will come from abroad this
summer will be greatly enhanced
because Of the Columbian Exposition
and the holding of this conference is evi-
IDENTIFY only beginning OF the activity TO
be displayed in preventing cholera to
get a foothold on this side of the water.