Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-02-11
The scourg- AMI the Fair.

Will the cholera invade the United
States in '93 to decimate our population
and play havoc with the Worlds Fair!
Can it be kept out altogether, or will 10
be allowed to get footho.d and exceed
the distressing experiences OF last sum-
mer? What sac gu ards can be provided,
and what means will be the most effect
i've? These are the questions upper
most in the public mind.
Various precautionary measures are
suggested, and it will be strange in
deed il, out OF the abundance OF ideas
offered and experience brought to bear,
some adequate system is not evolved
speedily for the protection Of the ma
ton from the dreaded scourge. The
British Government has determined to
appoint cholera survey with view to
preparing for the impending epidemic.
Overwhelming lressure is now being
exerted upon Congress from every sec
ton OF this country 10 do its duty in the
same regard, and 1t seems almost GER
tain that wise measure, comprehen-
sive enough to meet all the require
ments o. the situation, will be framed
and agreed upon. With ample precau-
lions by the United States Go,ern
ment, under a thorough and uniform
system ard intelligent administration,
SO our official sanitary authorities say,
there is chance of keeping The cholera
out, but without sufficient provision to
meet and fight it the danger OF its re-
appearance in virulent form is exceed
ingly imminent
From present indie itions 1t would APP
pear to be a foregone conclusion that
vry1,o Tor rtnot ka ~
the present organization OF the Marine
Hospital service and Federal quaran-
tine will be made it's nucleus and basis,
around which all necessary amplifica-
tions can be grouped and upon which
all needful superstructures can be built.
In the absence Of any specific legisla-
ton to the contrary, the task of pro-
fecting the country will fall upon the
present Federal quarantine service.
The Federal quarantine service is but
tmperfectly understood and appreciated
throughout the country, and consider
able irritation has resulted in eonse-
quence between it and certain local
quarantine boards. The Federal quar- :
antine and Marine Hospital Service were
founded by law as far back as 1898 and
1893, and have been from time to time
gradually extended since. The original
Marine hospital service was designed
for the care OF sick and disabled seamen
at points remote from their homes. In
1871 it was Teorganized and placed upon
its present footing as a bureau of the
Treasury Department. The old quaran-
tine statute OF 1899 provided for the OBJ
servarice Of State health regulations by
Federal officers, and gave the Presi-
dent of the United States the power to
purchase or erect quarantine ware
houses and to remove certain branches
of the government to places OF safety
during epidemics of contagious disease,
BY the, law OF 1878, o prevent the in
PRODUCTION OF contagious and infectious
diseases, vessels arriving from infected
foreign ports are to be kept out, United
States Consuls are required to report
the state of health at such ports and to
notify the Marine Hospital Service OF
the departure OF infected vessels, and
officers of State quarantine are empow-