The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-21
WILL NOT BE PoRr OF REFUGE.
Savannah to BE Protected Against
Infection From Cuba.

InIecIIOn FROM CUBA.
Savannah will not be used as a gate
way through which to transport sick and
wounded soldiers from Cuba, according
to a communication received by Health
officer LeHardy yesterday from Surgeon
General Wyman of the United States Ma
rine Hospital Service, bearing on this and
other subjects concerning which inquiries
were made.
BY direction of the sanitary board DR.
LeHardy wrote the surgeon general to the
effect it is the desire of the authorities here
TO act in concert with the marine hospital
service in all matters to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of yellow fever. 1t is predict
ed that joint efforts viii be success
full, since the object of both the sanitary
board and the marine hospital service are
Identical.
In answer to your inquiry whether it
is the purpose of the bureau to make some
provision near Savannah" the surgeon
general said, ito accommodate the refugees
or wounded and sick soldiers from Cuba
that may be landed in your neghbor,
hood, 1 have to state that at the present
time no provision of this character ere
being prepared by the service with regard
to Savannah for the reason it does not
seem probable that many refugees, or
wounded or sick soldiers from Cuba will
be brought through that port As TO the
sick or wounded soldiers from Cuba; If
any are brought requiring quarantine de
tentiOn, a demand would be made upon
the army for furnishing the necessary
equipment for said detention. An under
standing has been had with the surgeon
general of the army that returning sol
diers shall be transported on through
trains as quickly as possible to points in
the North. Occasional refugees it is be-
lieved, can be detained at the quaran-
tine.
"On inquiry of the proper authorities,
am informed that the chief ports both of
embarkation for Cuba and for debarkation
from Cuba, will be Port Tampa, Mobile
and New Orleans, and it does not seem
likely that Savannah will be used to any
considerab extent in this manner. If
you should deem 1t essential some provis-
ion should be made near the quarantine
station, however, for the holding of sus-
poets under observation, your board should
make some provision of this character, and
If by any chance there should arrive
large number of suspects necessary to be
held under observation, it would seem
preferable to send them to some Northern
port for debarkation, or, if necessary. this
bureau could be called upon to aid in their
temporary detention"
A third inquiry made by DR.. IeHardv
was concerning the detention of vessels
here three days after April I, which is
considered unnecessary by him, as well as
an injury to shipping. He desired TO
know whether the rule requiring the de-
tention after disnfection is general law.
or only applying to Southern ports.
In this connection 1t was suggested that
the United States quarantine regulations
provided that vessels entering an norris
south of the southern boundary OF Mary
land, which Is an arbitrary line, whether
the vessel is from an infected port or gives
evidence Of being Infected with yellow fe-
Yer, are subject to disinfection and deten-
ton of their personnel.
AT ports north of the southern bonn
dairy of Maryland, this regulation does not
apply" says the letter. IF the vasee1
carries no known infection at a Northern
port it may be admitted without detention
even though It come from q port which is
ordinarily infected with yellow fever The
passengers on such vessel however must
be detained sufficient time to make five
days from the infected port This is done
at New York and at our national oiIaran-
tine stations on the Delaware bay ana riv-
er. The Attorney General holds il is le-
gal"
Or. Ledardy complained about the ef-
feet on import business. but the surgeon
general said he could not see WHY Sovan-
nah should suffer by reason of quarantine
restrictions more than any other CITY on
the Atlantic coast south of Chesapeak4
bay. lie calls attention to the fact tbat
the regulations require that the personnel,
and not the vessel itself, shall be detained
three days. 1t Is suggested Therefore that
the crew could be taken OFF as soon as tho
vessel arrives at quarantine. the vessel
discharged of ballast and dlsinfected bv
stations crew. after which it could he
taken to port by fresh crew, which had
not been subjected to contamination AZ
ter the vessel is disinfected 1t is safe. bnt
the crew may develop yellow fever three
or four days after disinfection.
The idea OF avoiding the detention ~
this manner has not been seriously con-
sidcred by Or. LeHardy. He hopes. how
ever that some way to get around The de-
tent.on prior to May is, will be accom-
pUsned before long.
For that tired feeling you must enrio,,
and purify your blood Jood's cars,,.-