The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-06-13
THE REFUGE STATIONS.

| as suspicious ana subject TO tr6a TIM en- t.
| even though no yellow fever has actually
been onboard, are required to put il
| at Black Beard Island. Many of these
vessels are warned to perform their quar-.
antlne at the outlying stations as pre-
caution and consequent relief to the
quarantine stations at ports of destina
| ton. These stations are commanded by
experienced officers, thoroughly posted il
the scientific as we'll as the practical
and rigid discipline is maintained There
IS no work more manly than that per.
formed by quarantine officers. 1t req uires
physical bravery, powers of endurance,
firmness of purpose, vigilance, scientific
knowlege, and, of course, involves tire.
mendous responsibility They risk their
lives, and some have been sacrificed in
this work.
UNDER NATIONAL SURvEILL.
ANCE.
National supervision of quarantine has
been developed beyond the general ex-
pectafion of those who but casually ex-
amtned the law, which was approved
February Is, 1898. In accordance with
that law every seaport of the United
States is under the surveillance, as far as
quarantine is concerned, of the general
government. The whole coast, from
Maine around to the State of Washing.
ton, is divided into district and quaran-
tine stations. State and local, as well as
national stations, are subject to periodi-
cal visits of inspection by detailed
officers OF the Marine Hospital service.
As far as yellow fever is concerned, the
dangerous coast is from Virginia to
Texas. An officer of the Marine Hospital
service has been specially detailed for
the present season to do nothing else
but inspect the quarantine stations on
the coast of North and South Carolina
and Georgia. Another has the Florida
coast: another the gulf coast of portion
OF Florida, Alabama and Mississippi,
and another the Louisiana and Texas
coasts. Each of these officers has been
selected with reference to fitness, and
is supplied with most minute printed in
stru ctions He transmits to the bureau
reports of each station visited. In addi-
tion to these two special experts have
been detailed. One of these remains in
brunswick, Ga., where the yellow fever
prevailed last year, for the purpose of
prompt action should any suspicious
case of fever appear,
The authorities of Brunswick and the
marine hospital bureau are in thorough
accord in this matter, and are moving
In perfect harmoney, which is the great
est guaranty of successful and beneficial
work. The advisability of cooperation
was represented to the local authorities
of Brunswick, who Immediately extended
the invitation for the assignment of this
officer, as it would thereby relieve the
municipality of any doubts of the
presence of suspicious disease. and give
the necessary confidence to neighbour
cities and States. A further officer, as
sanitary inspector, appointed especially
because OF the pre-eminence of his
specific knowledge of yellow fever, is
visiting the various cities of the South
ern coast for the purpose of examining
their mortuary records, and of calling
attention to any unusual mortality from
fevers of all descriptions. 1t is held that
epidemics of yellow fever are generally
preceded by such immense mortality.
This inspector is also liz readiness to re-
spond Immediately to an order to investi-
gate any reported suspicious case Ex-
perlence has proven repeatedly the un-
willingness of local physicians to give
due credit to suspicious cases, knowing
full well. as they do, the serious disturb
ance to trade and commerce which their
report might cause, and being some
times in honest doubt, they give their
town the benefit of the doubt CONNER
cially.
Health officers of neigh boring States.
however, quickly learn of these suspic-
ious cases and report them to the bureau.
and it is then all important to have an
officer free from local fear or prejudice,
and so skilled that his decision is final
to pass upon the case.
Last season number of towns in the
South were thus inspected, causing
much local resentment and chagrin at
first. The sentiment quickly changed
however, to qualification when the dis
Quieting rumors were definitely settled.
the result showing freedom from suspic-
ion and corresponding commercial ad-
vantage.
SMALLPOX.
With regard to smallpox, which has
recently so widely prevailed, especially
in Chicago. the bureau has been called
upon to act, and especially to aid in pre-
venting it's spreading, particularly to
the ports on the great lakes. A regular
medical officer has been detailed at Chi
cago, with seven sanitary inspectors, to
vaccinate the crews of outgoing vessels
and inspect the same. An Inspector has
been stationed at 5ault Ste. Marie to in
spect vessels from Chicago bound for
Lake Superior, also one at Detroit for
ports on Lake Erie. Inspectors have also
been sent to several interior places where
the disease has been reported to exist to
see whether the proper precautions have
been takento pervent it's spread.
At the request of the State of Penn
sylvania supplemental quarantine sta
ton has been established by the marine
hospital service at Red Island, Delaware.
which works in conjunction with the
one at Delaware Breakwater, in Della
ware bay. 1t often happens that owing
to storms in the bay vessels cannot he
boarded at the hreakwater. In such
cases they pass on to keddy Island. This
is of great advantage to shipping and
affords additional security. Reddy Is
land is fully equipped with all the
modern appliances now in use.
The work of the marine hospital bureap
is constantly Increasing. and the SER
vices of its trained corps of officers are