The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-10-26
A QUARANTINE QUESTION.


"'foi bNihOcrul-cthI'
The question which was discussed
by the Mobile Medical Society at its
last meeting was not one pertaining
TO the best means OF fumigation and
dlsinfecti0n, nor the period of deten-
ton, but the argument seemed to
hinge on the local question, whether
the Mobile Quarantine Board should
contain lay members or whether it
should be composed entirely of phys
icians. 1t is conceded by all, that to
the physician is due the modern sys-
TEN OF quarantine. From their
scientific researches and experiments
they have evolved the present system
OF fumigation and disinfection, which
saves the vessels several days deten-
ton, and diminislles the danger Of
Injection to a minimum.
Give to the physician all honor for
the discovery of this modern system.
and to him the skillful operation of
the plant. But when the interest of
commerce is at stake don't it look
reasonable to have some representa-
tive of commerce on the board ?
The physician is supposed to have
enough knowledge of chemistry, n.y.
giene and bacteriOlogy to conduct a
quarantine properly for the proven
ton OF diseases and from possible in
lection, but il such is the Ease here in
Mississippi, that knowledge is not
used to advantage. What does the
physician know about lay days, and
the expense per day Of a vessel de-
talned in quarantine?
THIS question eau be wered by |
nearly any exporter of timber, steve
dore or ship chandler on the coast.
The physician will ask what does
the average ldyman know about QUAR-.
antine? Well, If the question was
asked any laymen of this section he
would be pretty apt to ast0und the
physician by telling him how quar-
lntinc was conducted, and also explain
some good remedy for the defect.
The PascagOula quarantine station
at Round Island is in charge of a
member of the State Board of Health.
The State Board of Health has juris-
dlctiOn over the Jackson county Board
OF Health and the Jackson county
Board OF Health appoints and bosses
The Quarantine physician. Now.
who on earth would be responsible
for Il yellow fever epidemic in Pasca-
goula that was brought from Round
Island? ..,.
The quarantine physician at pres.
ent boards vessels from Pascag0ula.
lie is supposed to inspect the vessel
thoroughly, fOrecastie, cabin and
mole, and if she happens to be from
south of the 18th degree of north
latitude or "A suspected or Infected
port, she is put in quarantine and de-
tanned any length of time that the
Jackson county Board of Health may
see tit. Yet the quarantine physic.
Ian comes ashore and mingles with
the people Of PascagOula and vicinity.
IT the Captain or crew come ashore
they will be subjected to imprison-
ment, or fine or both.
Does the quarantine physician in
his professional dignity, or official
position sccrete any peculiar prophy-
tactic for the prevention of infection
or spread of disease? If so he should
treat the Captain and crew with the
new antidOte and allow them ashore
and not keep the vessel lying idle
~ an enormous expense. Would any
layman with ordinary horse sense
allow such a state of affairs to exist ?
Such being the case, of what earthly :
use are the expensive quarantine
plants of Mobile and New Orleans.
They are like an old country farm
a big front gate standing and
not IA pannel of fence IN sight. Mobile
ma New Orleans have their front
doors double barred and locked to
keep ont burglars and sleep peace
fully with the windows up. {
If some layman charged with the
commercial interests of the State was .
put on the State Board of Health do ]
YOU think that such a state of affairs
would exist?
Let tue laymen of Mississippi with
The aid of the physicians of the State,
elect q competent mixed board, erect
modern quarantine plant for the
luick dispatch of vessels, and see
commerce will improve. The
imports In Mobile increased over two
hundred thousand dollars In eight
months OF this year, and the cause can
be assigned directly to the establish
ment Ola modern quarantine plant.
PHYSICIAN.