The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-22
The Health Bureau Scheme.

/ In view of the fact that the national
/ board of health that was in existence
/ seven or eight years ago was a useless in
/ stitution, for which congress finally re
fused to make any appropriation, it seems
rather remarkable that a movement for a
similar institution should have any sup
port. The cholera score Of 1892, however
created the impression that the country
is without satisfactory protection against
the introduction and spread of infectious
and contagious diseases, and ever since
that time efforts have been made TO get
congress TO create national health
bureau. Such bureau, if it should be
established, would be a very modest affair
IN the beginning, but eventually it would
grow into something more important.
Those in charge Of it and in sympathy
with it would endeayOr, in all proba oility.
to make it department of the govern
ment one Of the reasons why the old
national board OF health was discontinued
was that it tried to lift itself into greater
prominence and power without proving
itself to be of any practical benefit.
The first bill for the proposed national
health bureau was framed by the New
York Academy of Medicine 1t proyided for
nine medical commissioners and two com
missioners at large, all to be appointed by
the President. 1t also included the
surgeons general of the arLy and navy
and marine hospital service, and it was
given extensive powers in quarantine
matters and the handling of epidemics.
The health authorities of the different
states regarded the bill as very OBJ ection-
able because it practically deprived them
of the power 10 act as they thought best
for the protection of their respective
localities. Finding that it was not favor
bly, received by congress it was with
drawn
Another bill has been prepared which,
it is claimed is much more satisfactory
to the health authorities Of the different
states. 1t provides for one commissioner
of the public health, who shall be an ex-
pert sanitarian, and who is to be ap-
pointed by the President, and an advisory
council composed of one physician of good
repute from each state, the appointment
being made by the governor of the state.
1t is not very clear that health bureau,
AAA'ANA' ~ A'NpA AAiE W VIC ltlbN loAbuo VI
the bill, would be Of any practical benefit.
II would collect good deal of information
of more or less value, but it is difficult to
see that it would be helpful in time Of an
emergency. 1t is pretty certain it would
get into squabbles with local health au-
thorities and would have perpetual
quarrel with the marine hospital service.
Instead of creating new Offices would it
not be advisable to put trst-class men
into the Offices we already havel Why
not turn the whole matter of quarantine
over to the marine hospital service, en-
large the powers of that service and
equip it thoroughly That service
has already had good deal of experience
in fighting epidemics and it is better able
now than ever before to guard the couu-
try against the introduction of infectious
and contagious diseases. 1t could easily
be given the additional authority needed
TO make it a very effective institution for
preventing the introduction and spread of
panic producing diseases. Why not give
il a trial before establishing a health
bureau that is more likely to be a source
of annoyance and trouble than an aid in
guarding the country against cholera and
yellow fever