The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-23

oeSh almost enttrely destroyed by the I'M
necessary detention of our shipping to I'M
dergo the quarantine regulations that were
imposed at this port, and we can never
fe-establish ii as long as the detention eN-
ceeds that which is absolutely necessary
for public safety. Much has been gained
however, under your administration bv
tEe adoption of the new quarantine regu-
lations, and if sufficient wharf room.
moorins piles, and means to rapidly disin-
feet vessels are provided, thvIe is no iSa-
son why any ship should be detained here
longer than three days, The benefit thus
tar derived from the new regulations win
be shown in the following comparative
tables for lS96-1S97:
1897. 1896.
Vessels detained for sanitation. II s.
Passengers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 90 So
oeanen ........,.............,. 7,723 5000
1T was with hope of putting Savannah
on an equal footing with our larger sea-
ports, says DR.. LeHardy, chat | asked
Council to make reasonable appropria
ton for the purpose of increasing the
perth room and mooring piles at quaran-
tine station sufficiently TO accommodate
ten vessels at time. to build a short
wharf for infected vessels and a house
TO accommodate their crews. The sick
TO be treated in tents, as these can be al
ways disimected at the termination of a
Nee'S
had plans and estimates made for a com
plete modern disnfecting plant fitted
upon a towboat of sufficient size ana
power TO do great deal of towing. he
SIDES all the other work at the stallion
SUCH a plant could be built for less than
$3OW0OO and would soon pay for itself
WIN the facilities afforded by the change
OF harbor lines, for the removal of bal
last from vessels. If we were only equip
ped with the proper appliances We could
dlscnarSe four times as many vessels as
we 40 now, without any unnecessary de-
tehtlon, but as il is, owners, agents. and
masters of vessels complain. Our own
merchants would certainly protest most
vigorously, if they had to wait from six
10 tWenty-four days for their goods after
arrival This is the time vessels have
Deen detained al our station during the
past year. as VIII be seen by reference to
the report of DR.. Lindley our able con-
selentlous quarantine officer. who has DIS
charged his duties in strict compliance with
your rules, as far as he could apply them
ana who has remained at his post with
out leave of absence during the entire wear
l, therefore, strongly recommend that
the quarantine tug Theckia which as
VIII be seen by Capt. Daniels report. Is
entIrey too small for the present needs of
the station, be repiacd by such boat as
described above. This should be done be-
p
certiheate of inspection expires at that
time and If not disposed of she will doubt
less undergo costly repairs.
IN TINS connection, l desire to saw that
there is no more danger in handing rock
ballast now that we have formaldehyde
gas, a penetrating and certain garmicde.
TO disinfect il, and | recommend that clean
rock-ballast be allowed to come up to the
city, provided it has been properly disin-
tected, whenever there is any justifable
suspicion of the existence of a contagious
disease, at the port where the rock was
loaded"
OF inland quarantine, DR.. LcHardy has
the following to say:
During the prevalence of yellow fever
last summer in neighboring states land
quarantine was promptly established
quarantine Inspectors, in charge of sta
tons on each railroad We're given most
positive instructions to carefully inspect
each train coming into the city. and to re-
qulfe oil all passengers a Ger ificate or an
oath that they had not been within the
injected districts within ten days, and fail
ing to give satisfa ctoly evidence. they
We're 10 be- detained or allowed to return
10 Wherever they came from but under
no conditions to be allowed to enter tn
city. Besides these precautions. DR..
stone after having made. a tour Of the
injected districts, was stationed IN Atlanta
passengers leaving there for Savannah
10 mayor Meldrim and the Sanitary Board
IS que, to a large extent the credit in this
matter, and their efforts were as success
tul as land guarantees, established I'M
der similar conditions, could be expected
10 De. 40 not believe, however that Sa-
Vannah was in condition last year for
yellow fever to have either originated or
spread here and therefore, in my opinion.
there was at no time any Imminent dan
ger.
In my effort to obtain a complete re-
cord Of the births in this city" DR.. Lee
Hardy says, 81 have failed. l requested
physicians to fill out the blank forms pro-
vlded for births. and send them to me
within five days. in obedience 10 the ordi-
ance, but for some reason il was not reg
ulariy done. | then collected the certf-
Gates a their offices or residences. once
every week, and also succeeded in get
ting full reports from colored mid-wi
who are known to this department. but
many are not known, and The records ore,
therefore, still incomplete. An ordinance
should, therefore, be passed TO compel The
doctors, accoucheurs and mid-wiVes to
register at this Office
There having been no systemized clagsl-
fication of causes of death provided by
the city, each physician adopted one for
his own use. Latin, Greek English and
meaningless general terms being used.
This entai.ed an immense amount Of work
in preparing mortality tables for publica-
ton, which, after alls are probably not
correct. To remedy this, / made a classi-
fled list, obtained from tables now in use
In larger cities, and at my own expense
sent a copy to each physician in the city.
and l am gratihed to say that / have as
surances that the doctors will make their
reports conform to that list in future IL
an ordinance be framed compelling persons
performing marriage ceremonies to report
same to this office, as these ordinances
are enforced. correct tables can be sub
mtted by this department, but not other
wise.
NOW that vaccine is only gotten when
needed, the supply is always fresh, and
there is no waste. ~rhe amount saved by
this method Is considerable. Nearly 1900
points have been furnished to physicians
since last May, and many persons nave
been vaccinated at my office
Through the co-operat ton of the school
superintendent, all the school children
white and black, have been vacclnated
also the orphans al Bethesda. The con-
victs are being vaccinated, and have re-
quested physicians In charge of railroads
hospitals, jails, etc, to vaccinate all I'M
protected persons. and viii push a general