The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-26
DIR. FALLIGANT ON QUARANTINE.
His Reasons for Sustaining the Ac-
ton of Majority of the Sanitary
Board.


ton of a Majority of the Sanitary
Board.
Savannah, Ca. Dec Exhibitor Morn
ing News: 1t was with some surprise
that read in your columns this morning
an interview with the health officer, COM
menting upon the action of the sanitary
board, of which he is the secretary. Per-
haps am more responsible for that ac-
ton than any other member of the board,
since, after hearing the complaints Of the
joint committee from the cotton exchange
and board of trade, as well as the ship
brokers mot merely the latter, concern
ing the harm the present stringent quar-
antine regulations were doing our ship
ping interests, the board, at a later meet
ing, entered into a further discussion of
the subject from a medical standpoint,
and after a full and searching review of
the matters before them, adopted a more
liberal system than has heretofore pre-
vailed. The discussion brought out every
point clearly, whereby the minority of the
board and the majority thereof were at
variance and no such result could have
been brought about unless the reasoning
had been of sufficient force to commend
itself to the majority.
! am unable to see why we should con-
without any practical necessity therefor,
merely to be able to boast that we have
the strictest quarantine on the southern
coast. Quarantine is intended to prevent
the ingress of disease, and it is clearly
settled beyond any contingency of doubt
that the yellow fever poison (the one
against which our quarantine regulations
are chiefly directed) cannot propagate it.
self during our winter season; and that,
even If by any possibility it lurked in a
ships hold or quarters, it could not sur
vive removal therefrom and exposure to
the frosts and cold temperatures of our
winter months without being promptly
and effectively destroyed thereby. Neither
has this poison ever been known to hiber-
nate through a winter in this climate,
unless under conditions protecting 1t from
natures destructive processes. Why, then,
indeed, that we fail to detect ii
with a telescope), and because
of such imaginary and unjustified
apprehensions pile rubbish in the path
ways of our commercial life and call it
quarantine, / am utterly unable to see.
Stringent regulations during the season
of danger VIII meet the approval of all.
Similar regulations, when no such dan
ger exists or can exist, does us injury
without either benefit or necessity for
such extreme precaution.
The health officers declaration that
whenever he has been overruled in the
past on the positions which he has taken
justified his position. He acknowledges
defeat, but predicts that the ship bro
kers' will regret their victory, etc" might
better have been left unsaid.
As have stated above, the
complaints against his rulings
came from many beside the shipbrokers,
from committees and individuals repre-
senting large shipping and commercial
interests deeply concerned in the welfare
of the city; and the mayor very properly
gave the matter full and searching eX-
animation with the result now made
public. There was no question involved
as to who was the victor, shipbrokers or
anybody else, but a general desire to ap-
ply to our quarantine regulations the
most enlightened principles evolved by
medical experience and knowledge. In
so far as my personal knowledge of the
Known characteristics of yellow fever
and other contagious or infectious dis
eases may have assisted and strengthened
the board in their hope that our ship
ping facilities could be greatly benefited
without endangering our health, the
board were entitled to and received my
views. AS to their weight it is not proper
for me to speak. The health officer
language Off he was correctly quoted is
calculated to engraft on the public mind
a lurking apprehension of danger for
which there is no reasonable justification.
The people of Savannah will hardly credit
me with less anxiety for the safety of
this city or less knowledge of health
matters generally than is possessed by
our able official; but whilst have very
high regard for his Jealous performance
of his duties, 1 take the occasional liberty
of differing with him in opinion.
l.. A. Falligant,
Chairman Health and Cemetery Commit
tee of Council and Member of the San
ftary BOARD.