Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-02-09
TO PREVENT INFECTION
Measures to Keep Out Conta-
gious Diseases.
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE WORK.
Dread NaIndies OF Cuba md Porto
Rico to BE kept Away From our
Shorcs-Not Much Dmngcr From the
PhiliDpines-Wo Ponies.

shores-Not Much Danger From the
| Philippines-Wo Ponies.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. . Special. Tic
marine hospital service has been quite
active in taking measures TO prevent tho
| bringing of contagious diseases from the
islands Of Cuba and Porto Rico to the
| United states and will probably take
up tho question Of the Philippines when
the United States assumes full control Il
those islands. At present the military
authorities are making and enforcing
| regulations for the preservation Of tho
| health of the troops, as well as natives, in
| all the late Spanish possessions now unlOr
the control Of the United States. their
| duties being mainly in the direction Of
! sanitation. The scope of the work If
the marine hospital service is to prevent
| contagion or the spread to the United
States of the dread diseases so common in
the islands, and to take every precaution
against them if they once break out in
! this country. Under the quarantine law
| of 1898 the president is authorized to de-
| tail medical officers in foreign ports -
prevent contagion leaving those ports on
vessels bound for the United States This
detail by the president gives control e
vessels leaving Cuba and Porto Rico for
the United states. As commander in
chief Of the army the president also has
authority to station army medical officers
in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
who shall inspect incoming vessels "a
we'll as those leaving for United States
ports. The special efforts Of such officers
are Of course directed to merchant vessels
and tnitCd states transports leaving
Cuban ports for the nited states or for
other Cuban ports Asa further precaution
medical officers of the marine hospital serv-
ice have been placed on these transports
rs sanitary inspectors, and are 10 Use their
best efforts on board to prevent infection
among troops An officer of the service
ha, been detailed in Cuba. whore he Is to
visit all the port, Of the island except in
Santiago province, and make recommends
tionS aS to what steps are most cxpcdicn5
IN different localities to prevent the spread
Of infectious diseases. Santiago province.
because of its extent and condition, has
special officer for this purpose. Havana,
likewise, has an officer for duty only in
that city and it, suburbs Porto Rico, be
ing more hcalthtul island has fewer
officers. but special quarantine officers are
now stationed at San Juan and Ponce.
Further Precautions.
II is proposed during the coming quar-
! antining season, beginning with the ist
of May. to carefully inspect and. if neces-
sary, disintcct every vessel leaving Cuba
for the Cntcd states. To assist in this
work the disinfccCng ship Protector,
which remained at Montauli with such
good effect last summer, is now being
lowed to Havana. This is vessel 120
feet in length built especially for the pur-
pose. containing nothing bat di,infcctinC
appliances 1t has been found So useful
that another, but larger, vessel is now be-
ing constructed in Philadelphia which il
to he complete in it, outfit and will be
supplied with its own steam motive power
This vessel Will be ready in time for active
service i'm the coming quarantine season.
Besides the vessels two Cstabll ,hnputS Of
the marine hospital service are operated at
Dry Tor,ugas where sailing vessels i'm
rort can be readily diSinlcctcd Theslutn
Atlantic station is very complete. there
being every Arrangement for disiulectiu..
ships. At the Delaware Brcakwatcr the
government has a tract of 40 acres ON
which is fitted zap a complete quarantine
station with every convenience for caring
for patients with infection, di- asses.
The Danger Point.
Surgeon General Wyman dos not think
there j. much danger OF contug.on arriv-
in1 in this country from the Philippines
| In the first place, those island. are such a
great distance from hero that few natives
will come across. Moreover. the military
authorities there inspect all persons and
carefully guard all suspect, So that mono
may leave. Even should n contariousca,
escape the officers in the Philippircs. il
world be discovered bv the quarantine Of
flccrs on this side. for all incoming vessels
are now compelled to undergo n quaran-
tine inspection before entering an Amerl-
can port
The great danger, says DR.. Nymon lies
in the direction OF cuba. In that island
the diseases are very serious and wide
spread. 1t VIII be almost impossible 10
prevent some cases getting through
| Cuban ports, and that Will require espe-
cial vigilance in the ports OF this country,
especially in the south. The number or
small vessels plying in Cuban waters will
also be II source of much annoyance and
danger. In addition to the merchant YES
sells coming and going there Will be dur
ing the coming spring and summer
months many thousands OF people from
the United states who Will visit tho
island ana PROBABLY many people now IN
Cuba Will como to the nlttd states
There Will also be army officers coming
and going, and undoubtedly number or
regiments OF troops now i'll Cuba Will DO
sent home and others sent from here 10
u. L. II. lHr.la.