Evening star., 1898-08-08
INSPECTION OF TRANSPORTS
It Will Be Done by the Marine Hospital
Service.
Instructions Issued by Surgeon Gen,
eral Wyman-0rdcrs of the
Secretary of War.

The marine hospital service has insti-
tuted a system for the inspection of SOL
diers returning to the United States from
Cuba and Porto Rico which will prevent
detenttons on transports when the men ar
rive here. Surgeons of that service have
been detailed at Ponce and Santiago to en-
force a quarantine system. receiving
ship will be stationed at these and other
ports, and passengers seeking horneward
voyage will be detained on these vessels TO
have their baggage dsinfected, and to be
under observation until it is shown they
have no contagious disease.
Secretary Alger has issued the following
order:
"All sanitary matters pertaining to the
condition of transports and crews are to be
placed Inner the jurisdiction of medical
officers Of the United States marine hos
pital service. Every vessel engaged In the
transport service between the United
States and Cuban or Porto Rican ports is
to carry a medical officer of the army OF
the marine hospital service, whose duty
shall be that of sanitary inspector of the
vessel, and who shall see that in a foreign
port no material or person is taken aboard
liable to convey yellow fever; to Keep the
crews of the transports under surveillance,
and on the return voyage act as sanitary
inspector;
Surgeon General Wyman of the marine
hospital service has issued the following
instructions for the guidance of marine
hospital surgeons detailed for duty on army
transports:
Your duties are primarily to keep the
transports from becoming infected. At the
foreign poll the crews must be foruiGd en-
and PREY, ,ntee from going ashore; eF-sry-
thing .brot Eht on board rom must
be inspected, and, If doubt rN'sts. r.. .rClcd
or disinfected. Ill persons coming on
board at foreign ports must be inspected at
the gangway. Vessels must ne on the
shore a dock Certificates from
medical officers o. the marine hospItit! SER
vice duty at Santiago and other ports
should be accepted. IL troops are brought
on board, obtain ceFtncate from respoasi-
bic medical officer of the army of freedom
from infection. No passengers should be
allowed on board except on w-itteu order
of the commanding general (see cor
respondence on this subject with War De-
partment, copy herewith inclosed).
IF transport brings back sick or
wounded soldiers the latter are under the
care of the medical officer of the army de-
tailed for this purpose. For their treat
ment, medical supplies, &c, the medical de-
partment United States army. is response
BILE. The crews of the vessels, however, are
under your professional care. and a supply
Of drugs, &c, has been sent you for this
purpose If, however, you are called on by
the proper authority for assistance of the
sick or wounded soldiers, you are author
lied to render it. In absence of a regular
medical officer of the army you will, of
course render such assistance as the ordi-
nary dictates of humanity demand.
Look carefully after water supply. Keep
accurate notes and furnish such certificate
you are able to give to the quarantine
offices at the port of arrival in the United
States. Transmit reports to bureau on
rival in home port. A copy of the quaran-
tine regulations is sent you herewith for
your further guidance, and your attention
is particularly called to the work on yellow
fever recently issued by the bureau. AT
Santiago and other ports you will COM
municate with the medical officer of the
marine hospital service in command and
will receive and obey any reasonable order
from him.
'Disinfectants will be furnished from the
bureau on reQuisition as soon as practica-
BILE, but If for any reason purchase is nee
essary the officer may purchase in accord
ance with the regulations of the marine
hospital service.
These Instructions will be amended or
added to hereafter, and if for any cause il
Is impracticable or impossible to enforce
them, the officer must carry out their spirit,
if not their letter, to the best of his ability,
and report the facts to the bureau"