The record-union., 1895-09-16
FIGHTING THE ASIATIC CHOLERA.
The Government Insists on a Strict
Quarantine.
Secretary Laine of the State Board OF
Health in Communication
With Washington.

|
of the State for the month of August DR..
J. r. Laine, Secretary of the State Board
OF Health, says:
Reports from 80 localities, outside oi
the larger cities and towns, give III cases
of pneumonia, 53 OF bronchitis, IL OF
pleurisy, = of congestion OF the lungs, 164
OF diarrhea. % Of dysentery, 80 OF choiera
morbus, SO of cholera infantum, OF
diphtheria, Of Group, of measles, 80 Of
whooping- cough. Al of la grippe, 81 OF
typhoid fever, $50 of malarial fevers, OF
cerebro-spinal fever, of erysipelas. 81 OF
rheumatism, Al OF neuralgia, 45 OF ton
silltis, 81 OF pharyngtis.
Chicken-pox was reported epidemic at
| Folsom.
CONCERNING ASIATIC CHOLERA.
On account of reports of cholera in
China, Japan and the Hawaiian Islands
the State board deemed it advisable, at a
special meeting held at San Francisco
Septembe Sd, TO ask the General Govern
ment 10 declare quarantine against all
injected foreign ports, and enforce the
quarantine laws, rules and regulations OF
the United States against them. Such a
request did not contemplate an inter
ference with, or an infringement on, the
duties OF local or municipal health and
quarantine officials. The Secretary OF
the Treasury issues orders To United
! States Consular officers and to medical
officers serving at foreign ports, making
publicly known the rules and regula-
tions made by him to be used and COM
piled with by vessels III foreign ports for
securing the best sanitary condition of
such vessels, their cargoes, passengers
and crew before their departure tor any
port in the United States and in the
course of the voyage; and all such other
rules and regulations as shall be observed
| in the inspection of tho same on the ar
rival thereof al any quarantine station at
| the port of destination, and for the disln-
fection and isolation of the same and the
treatment Of cargo and persons Oh board,
so as to prevent the introduction OF
| cholera, yellow fever or other contagious
and infectious diseases.
The above is rected merely to show
| that the authority of the Government is
extended far beyond the jurisdiction of a
! municipal quarantine, which cannot de-
cree nor enforce rules and regulations i'll
foreign ports, nor on board vessel on
| its voyage.
The enforcement of regulations at the
| port of departure is regarded as more i'm
portant, If anything, than the matter Of
quarantining at the port of destination,
TOR il no contagious disease germs get
| aboard, there will be no quarantine to
undergo when the vessel reaches port.
While on this subject il is interesting to
| note that the most advanced sanitary
authorities III the United States lean in
favor of Governmental control of all
international quarantine.
| The Ier0S SdnttdTldA. recently made an
| unansWerable argument in It's favor.
Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Califor-
! MIA, Ohio and mum Der of other States
| have, through their officials, at various
times, expressed views in favor of Gov
| t..l t. Il -
| the ideal quarantine, and would relieve
States and municipalities of an enormous
expense.
But there will be no clashing of author
ity in the event of cholera knocking at
our doors. There will be harmonious
action and determination to prevent
its entrance.
1t is a good time for local boards to
clean house by the removal of all unsan-
itary conditions in towns and villages,
no matter how remote.
The following telegram was received
| from Washington September 4th:
81. II. Lame, ". d., Secretary State
Board Of Hedth, Sacramento, Cal
Your telegram has been received. All
ports on the Pacific Coast have been in.
spected by Marine Hospital officers this
summer and steps taken to perfect every
quarantine deficiency.
! fed presence of cholera, also at Yoko-
| hama.
"All the information is in the weekly
abstract sanitary reports, which all
quarantine officers receive
''Strict compliance with Treasury regu-
lations will be insisted upon at both for
| eign and domestic ports.
WALTER II. WYMAN,
Surgeon General Marine Hospital Ser
vice."
1t Is found necessary to continue an in
| spector against smallpox near the Ari-
zona border. 1t is propagated princi-
pally among Mexican inhabitants, near
the Mexican border. and has prevailed
all summer. 1t will require general vac
cination to place our people in condi-
ton of safety before the coming winter.
An epidemic of smallpox is an expensive
| luxury, and no effort should be spared
to evade it. Vaccination is surer than
inspection or quarantine.