The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
An EFFORT MAKING FOR a Ma"
TIONAL MMIsSION.

Tho question OF the public health and means
20 conserve II is likely to occupy the attention of
Congress to n considerable extent at the coming
session. A bill with powerful backing and
strenuous opposition Is to DO introduced pro.
viding for a national Department of Public
Health, to be in charge OF a Commissioners,
whom the President shall appoint, by and with
tho advice and consent of the Senate, tho Com
missioner's torn to be six years. Tho Commits.
sionor, by the provisions of the bill, Is required
TO BIO a regularly educated physician, holding a
diplumR conferred upon him by n legally In.
oorpurated medical college in tho United
Staten, and he must have had at least
ten years experience in tho practice of
medicine, land shall DO learned In san.
starry science and shall hold q membership in
emo or-moro reputable sanitary or medical asso.
oia,Hons in the United Statos." Although tho
department provided for. IL the bill becomes q
law, will DO slngle-headod, its administrator
win rot be the outgrowth OF the Commission.
er's p.rsonal ideas sololy. Tho Commissioner,
whon 70 salary 10 placed at 3 5000 per year. 10 re-
quire | by the terms Of the bill to convene, on
the III st Tuesdays of April and October, an nd
visory council to be composed of tho Secretary
or exec utivo officer of each State and Terrific
rial Bot I'd Of Health and ono officer learned In
fho law who shall be detailed by tho Attorney.
Dc, >eral Of the United States. The sessions of
tb, coun Gil arc not to DO continued beyond six
days unle So the President Of tho United States
no an, Moi lies. The council may be called to-
rether, eft ,ner than semtannually by the Com
~ mission, W. and the President may direct that It
be conve, Va 4 when to him 1t appears necessary
for the VI bile protection under certain pre-
pcribed co ulitions.
On tho n, Nvision Of the bill which orders this
semtamaIR v~Snation Of the national and State
health dept Itments, together with the addi-
tionnl sectio, o that look to the further develop
mcnt of this Internationally, more, perhaps,
than on any , Mher the proponents of the bill
depend, It is I'm d%erstood, to secure Its passage,
always, OF cour, w. excepting the primary neces-
uity which they tver to e1:ist for such a national
department as tn . bill ia intended to establish.
PILLS have been introduced before for similar
purposes, and hs We mot opposition on the
ground orState's ri ahts. States rights arc con-
sidered in the pre- vent bill In the making Of
the department coo pcrative, not less than the
greater efficiency W. Heh 1t is planned thereby
to attain. The bill. h o1''ver. although favored
by some of the most e udncnt bacteriologists of
the country, is oppose I by others of the same
class. 1t is favored by Abe American Public
Health Association undt v%whose auspices 1t has
been prepared. and til y American Medical
Society. which has long aought some sort of
national direction of disea " epidemics. but 1t Is
objected to in various gu. uters, and Its advo-
Gates nc. less than its ODD, Bents proclaim that
in all likelihood there will be O warm contest
when the bill comes up.
There is a greater cry for national action on
this matter now than at some times. because OF
the recent yellow fever scare / q the South. and
the same cause has tended to les. ven the bitter feo'-
ing of resentment at Federal Interference"
SO called, in sections where a National Health
Bureau has long been opposed. The call for ma.
tional direction comes now pr city generally
from all quarters of the country, even II there
be opposition In the same quarter I and 1t could
not we'll be otherwise when cor, Millions have
become such that. as ono writer Il ! the present
controversy puts 1t, Tho appears nee of a sim
gle case Of yellow fever in Calves ton affects
Boston. and. like leaven in the CONNIE ecial mass.
its Influence extends to everv cent. 'e of trade
and manufacture in the country"
The common cry has been. usually, Il VI q my
tional quarantine" meaning, generally a coaat
quarantine, such as 10 now maintained. by tn,
various coast States at principal ports OF entry.
It Is this that has met the most strenuous oppo
sition of capable State Health Officers, as well
negatives. What tho scientific men mt st ao-
lively concerned aim for, in the interests OF the
Which shall be thorough and effective ia ali
parts OF tho country, and to that end ramitying
the District Of Columbia. inland as well as along
the coast line. and extending to foreign ports
munication. As defining this purpose and Oh
iect, the term National, Department Of Public
Health Is more accurately descriptive than Ma
In the current North american Reuie,c a series
ar and dHt the PPPP PbIic ii Moal hRe F Ss Dr. +. f Il. GirdnoT,
who is deeply Interested in The Marine Hospital
fPssS'V 81 S New S'S yort T. and %S!s b. s' Z. n. q DrsFo o chez ,Hs
SURGEON Of the Southern Railway. who is in close
forms not so much a discussion as a presentation
OF OF the eon tSpis (which an % p aSSus So general ;n fha q es subieSt
This series was preceded by an article by
Dr. Doty in the August number Of the same
s @ssai1iins: in T instpnd h sa Of a s6SsssTiptiiHe M n e..
DDS" with details of the efficient conduct of the
the IS'S Na arr11ss s S% IN IN t GSs lo S%sFS Say. 1n st lis paper %n
in tho December number pr. poty affords an
tine and the public health. in national and local
Significance. in a comparstively brief space.
Ialss capnot propsrly or safely be applied to ST
ping and commerce. differs. and methods which
ports within tho yellow fever belt cannot con.
sistently no enforced at Now York or Boston
certain differences in the requirements OF guar.
antine regulations, in the various sections OF the
This Is not generally appreciated:
"Ths second reason advanced by those who
vice by ihe national government is That the
chinEc VIZ insure q harmony Of action through
business viii DO reduced 10 a minimum during
the prevalence Of yellow fever and other inieo.
the distinction between the quarantine service
rs II is now understood u. e.. that which protects
the COAST and the management Of health mat
ters IN tho interior, the second reason given
isni ieast plausible, but when properly anal
not rational TO expect that n Federal quaran.
tine officer, whose jurisdiction is practically at
a mort OF ontry, could consistently visit an in
terror town where an infectious disease existed
and demand recognition as a health officer.
II Is evident that a Federal quarantine
officer, with power at the coast only, could not
he relied upon 20 create harmony among health
officials IN the interior.
To one vcrscd In sanitary science IL is mex
Plicable that Il national control of the quaran.
tine service should DO specially advocated as n
means OF protecting tho general health OF tho
country, when the obstruction 10 business and
travel. the enforcement OF foolish and unneces-
sary rules governing the entrance and exit OF
persons aud goods during the prevalence OF
infectious disease, are confined mainly to the In.
terror OWNS or Mt least to those places outside
otthe jurisdiction OF quarantine officers. sss
TIT IS necessary FOR tho protection OF the peo.
Pile mat the Government should nsanmr hirnrt