The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-30

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Siri Tho sense
less scare OF tho present year has demonstrated
tho necessity for n uniform system, Of quarantine
for all portions Of tho United States. Tho adj
ministrotion at tho different Gulf ports ] ind In
conducted in tho interest Of the business carried
on Mt that port. have converscd with per onn
who were passengers from Central American
ports. whore local fever existed, and tho mi
crobcs they brought with thcm were not dis
turbcd by amy process OF inspection or disinfec-
ton Mt tho Mobile quarantine. In fact. whom
tho time OF detention did not exceed thirty min
utcs. II would DO impossible to know what the
steamer contained contraba d OF public health.
An experience OF 100 years. covered by obscrva-
lions OF my ancestors and myself, has established
the fact that of the thousands OF men who
have sailed from the United States to the
fever ports of tho Western Continonp
and West India islands not one was lost
who followed tho well.known rules o ship sani-
tation. OF the hundreds. yes, thousands, 1 have
personally known, the only lives lost were In
United States ports, notably in tho olden times
In New Orleans and Mobile. Names could bo
given to verify this statement. InquirN OF any
person who is acquainted with the maritime
commerce of the United States will verify this
axiom: "a clean ship Is n healthy ship"
Under the National Board Of Health the Idea
of constant and Uninterrupted intercourse
with tropical co ntries at all seasons was dem
onstratod at Pensacola, Mobile. and New Or
leans. The bill providing for q national board
was OF the crudest character, but with the Sur
gcon-Gcneral Of the army, the Surgeon-General
Of the navy, the Surgeon-General Of tho Marine
Hospital, and Drs. Cabell OF Virginia, Anderson
OF Chicago, Mitchell of Memphis, and Bemis OF
New Orleans, there was an effective Board OF
Administration 1t would have continued to
be effective but for the g~rasping desire OF the
Marine Hospital service. The writer. az eIecu-
tive officer for the board at this port (beinG
Mayor In 1870, had opportunity TO note the adj
vantages to be derived from tho consular re-
ports and certificates.
Tho general Government alone has the au.
thority to compel proper reports as to health
and vessels; under the Constitution, section 8,
act 2, Congress shall have power. to regulate
mmc with foreign. nations. and among the
several States, and with the Indian tribes" So
land" several. millions Of dollars could have
been prevented; and II a contagiousf fever, which
were to appear in any section, It can be limited
by proper action and leave commerce compare
fft eveFs h %%tsf Seen III SOME That des GSP i loeol swd% bg
f but T t !. not A abe a.sdiy ~i GboSpe Is Fsys . @Ier roSs.
nor is it the yellow fever microbe. A mortality
ATTACKED Iess than Zig per cent. in con-
New Orleans ri s"i in is7Rs et viii VIII cause Sxe'aE Is to
pause and consider whether we can afford to
Health. with their enseeless scares. when we can
have the superior intelligence of the men OF
wide experience. who have no axes to grind and
only the public welfare TO protect.
A to a location in the Gulf for infected ships,
the Chandelier Islands are the only. suitable
place, and SIS, 900 Will put all the buildings and
wharf in good condition for occupancy. I visited
them recently, and while the location is not az
agreeable as Ship Island, II is healthy and prop
erly detached. When Ship Island was selected
the SHIPMENT Of lumber from that vicinity had
What we need is the best that all the DEPART
ments united can give us. Ask Congress to at
tend to this matter early in the session. and
cvermore there shall he confidence and common
sense moving along our commercial channels.
PENSACOLA, Fla, Oct. 26. SEwALL c. COBB.