The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-02
CONSUMPTIVEs EXCLUDED.
American Ports Henceforth Closed TO
Such Immi grants.
Boston Transcript.


When the next passenger steamers-New
England and Ultonia-come in from Europe
n new immigration rule will be i'm effect.
and its application means the exclusion or
all aliens who have consumption. They
must return TO the country whence they
came. A ruling TO this effect has been
made by +. III. Larned. acting commits
sioner general of immigration. and ii has
been approved by H. a. Taylor, the assist
ant secretary OF the Treasury Department.
Ii reads follows:
Aliens applying for admission at ports
OF the United States and found 10 be suf-
fering from tuberculosis of lungs are with
in the class excluded by Section ! act APP
proved March 3. 1891"
fhe ruling was made at the request of
the commissioner of immigration at Ellis
island. New York harbor. but IL applies
To all ports, having been promulgated for
the guidance OF immigration officers in
considering the admissibilty of aliens un-
der Section ! Of the act Of March 8, 1891,
which excludes from admission into the
United States persons suffering from
lCathsome or a dangerous contagious dis
ease" As consumption Is now recognized
by the medical profession contagious
disease ii comes within the meaning of the
of Health. at its meeting to-day, may take
some action in this matter. For the local
physician of the Marine Hospital Service.
DIR. Howard Russell. whose decision as to
the health of a passenger. after the ship
arrives at the dock is final. the law IL laid
down specifically. II he finds a passenger
it to Commissioner Billings. and the latter.
having no alternative. will prevent that
passenger from landing In Boston. Posi-
bly, the consumptives will not be permitted
To pass quarantine where the port physi-
clan. DIR. Paul Carson intercepts all trans
atlantic passenger steamers for the pur-
pore Of examining the health condition OF
the passengers and reports to the Boston
Board of Health. IL will rest with this
board to determine what shall be done with
consumptives before the boat reaches the
N(lr xxrl,ar he ft1ric di0 ff NJ %
Hospital Service begins.
Consumption has for number Of years
given the immigration officers more or less
concern. because the Marine Hospital Serv-
ice, 10 which they look for a certificate of
health in each case. recognized IL as a con-
tagious disease long before the medical pro-
fession in general could accept this verdict.
But in the absence of special instructions
each case has been treated on its own mer-
its and some consumptiNes have been la nd
ed under bonds while others were returned.
In the future bonds cannot be accepted.
They are intended TO secure the govern
ment against any expenses on account of
the alien for one year. What effect the
new rule will have upon immgra ton in the
future if IL Is allowed to remain in force.
is easily seen. So long al consumptives
cannot land here the steamship companies.
which have 10 stand the expenses OF re-
turning all who are rejected, viii not &C
cent as passengers any aliens who are az
nicted with the disease. and the pres
ence Of the tubercle bacillus cannot he de-
tected without a thorough bacterial test Of
the lungs everybody who desires TO come
10 this country in the future must pass
rigid examination. Exterior symptoms do
nor appear in the earliest stages 70 indi-
cate tho presence Of the bacillus. so that
before an arrangement is made in which
the steamship companies can cooperate ef-
ficienty IL Is not 10 De expected that All
who have contracted the disease shall be
culled ont and sent home. and in some in
stances even the examining physician will
be left in doubt In ms diagnosis without
the bacterial test which is a slow process.