The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1898-02-19
Mobile Quarantine Convention.

The Mobile Convention has met and
adjourned. 1t owed its inspiration to
DR.. Sanders, Health officer of Alabama
and President of the Alabama Medical
Association, tho successor OF the late
lamented Jerome Cochran, the Nestor
of the profession il Alabama.
Dr.. Sanders the courtesy of electilKim
President, whether lie araHtete>sG not.
1t goes without saying, had he desired
it, he could easily have stocked the
Convention with his friends. 1t is Il
little singular. therefore, to say the
least, that the Doctor was not even con-
suited in the organization of the Con-
vention, but thus is it ever in the affairs
of life, he who plants the acorn rarely
ia permitted to bask beneath its shade.
The Convention, of course, was like all
gatherings of this sort-very divided in
| sentiment.
Majority reports were brought in, on
the important questions Of the hour.
and compromise resolutions adopted.
The majority seemed to favor Il Ma
| tional Department of Health, with
more power than at present obtains,
over Maritime Quarantines, but with
Jealous eye, the majority watched any
effort to increase the power of the Fed
eral government over the Quarantine
police powers of the State, and reso-
ution was adopted practically con-
demning the Caffery Quarantine bill
now pending in the Senate, which gives
to tile Marine Hospital Service unlimi-
ted jurisdiction over Quarantine.
The fact was pretty generally recog-
nized that the education of the people
in Hygienic matters was OF primary
Importance.
On motion of DR.. Quitman kohnke,
the objects and purposes of the Louisi-
ana State Sanitary Association were
fully endorsed, and the formation of
similar organizations in all of the Gulf
and South Atlantic States advocated.
DR.. Kohuke is one of the leading ply
sicians of N. y. and member of the
City Council, and was one of the lead
ing candidates for the Presidency of
the Board of Healtt-a man OF aggres-
sive individuality, a ready debater and
of fine ability. While a notable gath
eling of medicos and laymen, the Con-
vention's labors will have but little i'll
tluence on the Senate, for the reason
that it was not sufficiently represent
ative. A convention of that sort should
be largely attended by delegates elect
ed by the medical and sanitary bodies
of the States represented and we
note the absence of some Of the States
leading sanitariaDs. A Quarantine
gathering, par excellence, with Holt
left out, is like Hamlet without the
Prince of Denmark behind the scenes
DR.. Hamilton, Ex-Surgeon General of
the NJ. H. Service, was there with
long knife up his sleeve for WymaD,
present incumbent, bnt despite of all
this, We are of the opinion, without
t,In
that the amended Catfery bill which
really changes the bill, will pass the
Senate, for it has already been favol-
ably reported by the committee to
which it was referred.
As the season of epidemic danger
approaches, we commend to our read
era the careful pelusal of the Charter
of tho L. S. S. A. published weekly in
our columns, and everyone among the
Law people, male and female, are urged
to send in their application for member
ship, which is only one dollar a year,
emitting all to join the School of Hy
giene.
We are in hopes, and we understand
it is the wish of the President OF this
body, that the first Institute be
held in this town. The significance of
this, in relation to the material interests
of the town, can be understood when it
is remembered that this is the first pop
ular Institute of Hygiene ever held in the
Western Hemisphere; and the mere fact
of it's being held here, will be an adver-
tisement Of the town and its advantages
as an educational rendezvous all over
the country.
Some of the leading men of the State
have consented to lecture. The ees
sion will last about week, aud some
80 lectures will be delivered. Some of
these lectures, notably those of Prof.
Metz, Professor of Chemistry and State
Chemist, will be illustrated with his
magnificent Sciopticon. Doubtless, the
Attakapas town that exhibits the largest
roll of mem bership and puts up the arg-
est sum for the entertainment Of these
visitors, will secure the plum, and we
hope Opelousas will not let Crowley or
Lake Charles or some other progressive
burg get the edge on us.
A very pleasant episode was the in
terest manifested by the Rev. Father
Semple, S. j., President of the Jesuit's
College, who read II paper; in this
country with its teaming Catholic pop
ulation, it is pleasant to note the in
terest the clericals are taking in sani-
tary matters. They can do a world Of
good in circles open to them alone, and
their advice will aid the sanitaIians of
the State in convincing the masses
that "clealiness is Goodness"
~