The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-16

fleets upon our preaent or past health Of
ficers, but simply seeks 10 provide the
necessary machinery to carry into effect
the demands of the times. Quarantine~will
be but u small part of the duties of this
board: yet ut is In the execution Of that
particular function that your whole OBJ
lection seems to lie. The advocates OF this
measure are not so visionary as to sup
pose thaut in cases of emergency, like in
times Of threatened epidemics. that quar-
antine must wait on the action of the
board, but expect that the power to de-
clare quarantine will be vested in the pres
ident of the board. In cases of doubt.
however, he will have, provided by the
State able assistants 10 give advice and
counsel and thus carry into effect, sys-
tematically, that which has been done
in the past in a haphazard way. DR.. r. NJ.
Swearingen in 1897 took advice and coun-
sci of the physicians of both Houston and
Galveston and raised the quarantine upon
their recommendation.
Before his death he had about come TO
the conclusion that there was 10 yellow
fever in Texas during 1S97-see Texas Med
ical journal November issue-and this WAS
in almost accord with the views OF the
boards OF Galveston and Houston.
Our present health officer took a COM
Mittee of physicians to Galveston during
the yellow fever scare this fall, sor what
purpose / leave you to infer. So / say
with board of health such contingencies
as above noted will be obyiated and the
health officer, when in doubt. will have
skilled counselors ito strengthen his waycr-
ing judgment, for indeed it Is a weighty
thing 10 close up city, when in doubt, and
amy right thinking man will gladly seek
advice When going it single handed. il
in doubt" he always declares quarantine.
With board of health, quarantine, it is
to be hoped--except in restricted sense
VIII become thing of the past. In 1874
England abandoned quarantine and since
then has relied successfully upon santa
ton. There men and animals infected with
contagious Diseases are Isolated, they, their
effects and immediate surroundings dis
infected and such thing as quarantine
is unheard Of
This view of sanitation reached this
country in 1889 ard has since made Sue
cessfrh Roadway against contagious and
infectious diseases in our Northern and
Eastern citses. New York and Philadel
pkia. once the scenes of the most fearful
epidemics of yellow fever ever witnessed
in this country, have become by sanitation
and isolation practically immune. With
members Of the board of health scattered
around over the State, whose duty 1t is to
disseminate ideas upon the subject OF sani-
tation. the people will become better In
stpucted and learn what England has
taught us, viz: That sanitation is the best
quarantine. Another function of this
board will be- to inquire into the causes of
excessive mortality In certain districts and
suggest methods OF relief This function
applies equally as we'll TO animals as men,
matter in which some people seem to be
more interested than they do about them
selves. For this purpose the board is ex-
pected to have 4 veterinary surgeon. bac-
teriologist and chemist.
Among other duties might mention dis
semination OF literature concerning our eli
mate. Whether you know Il or not In
West Texas we have as fine a health resort
as anywhere in this country and Il only
needs such advertisement as the board Of
health Of Colorado has given TO her climate
to bring hundreds. nay. thousands. OF cIu-
zens to our State.
tn my mind. however, the most fnpor-
tant duty OF this board. duty entirely be-
yond the reach OF one man. will be the
promotion OF sanitary measures In our
cities and towns, especially In the coast
country, so that quarantine will soon he
numbered among the things that have
been and only referred to as a relic Of The
middle ages or used as busaboo TO scare
children.
Not only quarantine but the mere dread
OF the possibility OF its existence means
restrictions on business that affects every
man, woman and child in the great STATE
Of Texas Texas can not afford to ~
without board OF health.
8, q, RsA y. D.