The record-union., 1893-01-05
NATIONAL QUARANTINE.
Dr. Lame of this City Expresses His
Views Thereon
At the Request of the New York
Board of Trade-He Favors
Inhibition of Travel.


In view of the general apprehension OF
another epidemic Of cholera in Europe
the coming summer, and the necessity
for the enactment of stringent and sweep
ing quarantine measures on this side Of
the ocean, the New York Board of Trade
and Transportation recently applied to
DR.. J. R. Laine of this city, Secretary of
the State Board Of Health, for his views
on the subject. Accompanying the COM
munication was the following circular:
BOARD OF TRADE & TRANSFORMATION, I
NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 1892.
A special committee of the New York
Board of Trade and Transportation has
been appointed, pursuant to resolution
and is seeking information, data and
opinions touching quarantine, and the
advantages, if any, of establishing uni
form system in the United States, under
the management Of the General Govern
ment: the intention being, if the weight
Of opinion and evidence favor the propo-
sition, to prepare suggestions for Con-
gressional legislation on the subject.
The members of the committee are:
Chairman, Hon. Oscar S. Straus lex
nited States Minister TO Turkey, of l..
Straus & Sons, importers of china, glass.
patrick & Co., importers and manufact-
urers of plate-glass,s looking glass, ETC.;
Edward H. Cole, Of The Eaton, Cole e
Burnham Company, well machinery and
brass goods; Elias $. A. De Lima, of ID.
4. De Lima IL Co., foreign commission
merchants; Ambrose Snow, of Snow 81
Burgess, shipping and commission mer-
chants.
The committee have adopted the follow
ing line of inquiry, and invite such sug-
gestions and opinions thereon as they
may. be willing to make public, from ex-
perts and professional men having practi-
cal experience of sanitary affairs, and
from others having opinions on the sub
ject:
First-Quarantine administration in
foreign countries as furnishing precedents
for the United States.
Second-The present status Of quaran-
tine in the United States: (aJ NATIONAL;
(b) State.
Third-The existing system of quaran-
tine administration in the United States ::
(a) Cost; (b) restrictions imposed on
commerce and travel; (cJ security
afforded.
Fourth-A national quarantine: (a)
Would it lessen the existing imposts upon
commerce? (b) Would restrictions on
commerce and travel be less injurious? {?
(cl Would it afford increased security to
the country?
Persons writing the committee are re-
quested to affix to their names their pro-
fessional or special titles, if any, and to
address their communications to Hon.
Oscar S. Straus, Chairman, So Liberty
street, New York, n. Y. Respectfully,
etc, DARWIN r. JAMES, Secretary.
DIR. LANES RESPONSE.
OFFICE CAL. STATE BOARD OF HEALTH,
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 26 1892.
Hon. oscar s. 'SrduS, Chairman Spe-
cidL Committee Of NelO York Board of
Trade and Transportation, No. IS Liberty
Street, NeW York City-SIR: In reply to
questions one to four, propounded in a
circular relating to quarantine accom-
panying a letter signed by Secretary Dar-
win r. James, | will say that the first
question might properly be passed by
without discussion, inasmuch as the es-
tablishment OF any kind of quarantine
has for its only object the protection of
the people of the United States and those
who act in conjunction with them. The
study of quarantine administration in
foreign countries will be instructive, but
it should not be prosecuted with view
merely of finding precedents for our
future action on this continent. 1t would
be well to divest ourselves at once of any
leaning or dependence on other countries,
and to adopt course best suited to our
present and future necessities.
l would, however, call your attention
20 DR.. Shakespeare's very comprehensive
and voluminous report to the President
on this subject, with special reference to
Asiatic cholera.
The present status of quarantine in the
United States is mixed, being partly
National and partly State. Each is dis
tinctly separate and different in function
but identical in purpose and interest.
Under the present system there must of
necessity be want Of uniformity of ad-
ministration, with weakness at points in
the line of defense. Such uniformity of
administration as would bring all defens-
ible points to parallel degree of eff
cheney cannot be too strongly urged but
this cannot be put into successful opera
ton while 1t is possible for the State and
National authorities to conflict.
The National quarantine administra-
ton is under the management of the
General Government, through the Treas
ury Department, which delegates it to
the Marine Hospital Service. Its eff
cheney has so far been unquestioned, and
it has everywhere met the full expecta-
tions of the public where it has been in
vested with means and authority to act.
1t has the positive advantage of mobility,
which the State authorities cannot pos
sess. Any want of suitability of local
administration may be corrected bv a
chonge Of station, which is impossible in
State and municipal affairs. The cost of
the Marine Hospital Service may be as
certained in the United States Treasurer S
report.
The restrictions to be imposed on COM
merce and travel would, it is hoped, be
increased rather than diminished under
a National administration, inasmuch as
security to ourselves Is the prime object
Of quarantine. But the asperities of such
restriction might and should be reduced
so as to bear as lightly as possible by the
establishment Of suitable refuge stations,
the separation of the sick from the well,
and the detention OF suspects in isolated
but commodious quarters. But the re-
strictions on commerce and travel should
cover a wide range. 1t should, under
certain conditions, 10 be determined by
competent authority, be absolute. A
total suspension of commerce and travel
for time would prove less injurious TO
commerce itself than the presence of an
Asiatic pestilence for the same period.
Add to the injuries of commerce the in
juries to national prosperity produced by
an unsettled and panicky condition OF
the public mind, and the financial results
are appalling and iar-reaching in their
ultimate effects,
A National quarantine system under
the direction of the General Government
would undoubtedly lessen the existing
imposts on commerce, and also modifv
advantageously the restrictions on com
meree and trade. 1t would most GER
lbiulE dhOtu GIHdS6u SecuTllY 10 the
whole country. There would be the de-
cided advantage of uniformity of admin
istration under the central authority OIL
the Government. Such deviatons as
were found necessary at the point OF
action could be provided for. But the
laws under which the restrictions are ap-
piled would be known at home and
abroad, and all requirements would be
weighed and anticipated. Duplicity and
want of good faith are less likely to be