Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-22
NAT IONAL HEALTH
Enlarge Scope of the Marine Hospital
Service.
TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE
Provision by Congress for a Lab
oratory Here.
THE FIELD TO BE COVERED

| For the first time in the history OF this
| country there is a national health depart-
| ment of a permanent nature. II is not a
| national health department in name but
IN effect. 1t was created by provision in
the sundry civil appropriation bin passed
In the last hours of the Fffty-sixth Con-
gress, which reads as follows:
For building for laboratory marine hos
pital service: For the erection of the neces-
sary buildings and quarters for a labora-
tory for the investigation of infectious
and contagious diseases, and matters per-
tanning to the public health, under the d.
rection of the surgeon general, s35. 600; and
the Secretary of the Navy is authorized TO
transfer to the Secretary OF the Treasury,
for use as site for said laboratory. five
acres of the reservation now occupied by
the Naval Museum of Hygiene"
Laboratory Site Transferred.
In accordance with the provisions of this
act the Secretary of the Navy today trans
ferred TO the Secretary of the Treasury,
for the use of the marine hospital service.
hVe acres of the reservation south of h
street and between 23d and 25th streets.
formerly occupied by the old naval observa-
tory, and now occupied in part by the
Naval Museum of Hygiene. The land
transferred VIII be used Tor the building OF
the laboratory referred to in the act.
1t has looked after the health of the
sailor, except when, by special legislation.
1t has investigated contagious diseases on
land in specific cases. 1t has studied to
keep disease out of the country under the
national quarantine laws, but on land 1T
has had jurisdiction only by sufferance or
indirectly. Now, by legislative enactment,
the marine hospital service viii devote Its
attention to all matters pertaining to the
public health. 1t will not have power to
put into effect any health measure except
to prevent the spread of a disease from one
state to another. Now II Will devote at
tention to all matters pertaining to the
public health, endeavor to increase present
knowledge Of diseases and the cause OF
their spread and to place within the reach
of national and state officials information
that will enable them to battle disease In
whatever form and wherever found.
Upon plans to be approved by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury building will shortly
be erected in the old observatory grounds
especially adapted to the investigations 10
be pursued in the execution of this work.
The plan of the building and work to be
conducted in 1t will be based on observa-
ton and practical experience in the chief
laboratories of the world by the present
director Of the laboratory of the marine
hospital service. DIR. NJ j. Rosenau, who
has recently returned to this city after
having spent seven months in observing
methods in the Pasteur Institute at Paris
The entire project WILL of course, be under
the supervision of the surgeon general OF
the marine hospital service.
Plans Drawn.
Only tentative plans of the building have
been drawn. They provide for structure
two stories in height. On the first floor will
be the offices, library, quarters for attend
ants, rooms for cro-photography and for
the investigation of rabies, together with
store rooms for the disposal of necessary
material and disnfecting room. The sec
ond floor will be devoted to microscopical
work. both meteorological and chemical.
The meteorological work VIII include a
complete investigation of the causes, meth
ods and spread of contagious diseases. and
especially of the spreading of diseases by
insects. Study will be devoted to the cause
of cancer and anti-toXlc serums VIII be
manufactured. The power and strength
of antiseptics and methods for their use
in practical work Of infection will be test
ed. Experimental work bearing on pneu-
monia and typhoid fever. which has been
conducted in the laboratory of the ser
vice for several years. will be continued.
There will be continuation of the study
of bacteria and their effect on the human
OF ryanism especially I'm their relation to
the cause of fevers and the prevention
and cure of infectious diseases, and an in
vestigation into the causes OF immunity
from various diseases.
Similar to the Pasteur Institute.
The laboratory will be founded and con-
Qucte0 on tne Sdlilt Sthtidt Bidh anu pm
ciples of the celebrated Pasteur Institute
in Paris. The marine hospital service has
a laboratory equipment in this city which
Is second to none anywhere, but its quar-
ters are now inadequate. 1t also has quite
a complete laboratory on the Pacific coast
and also another in the Philippine Islands,
together with two travelling laboratories.
which are especially adapted for rapid
transfer and investigation in any part OF
the United St ates. These travelling labora-
tories have been used great many times
Although the marine hospital service has
only lately been given the functions OF q
national health department by legislative
enactment it's laboratory has long been
established, and been engaged In work
which it's enlarged powers will make it
possible to pursue in a more complete way.
The laboratory was established in 1887 In
New York on the suggestion of Surgeon
General Wyman, who had then lately Wis
tied the laboratories of European countries.
He was not then at the head of the service,
but when he finally became surgeon gen.
eral he continued his interest in the grow
ing institution which has been given inn
proved facilities for work from year to
year. In 1891 the laboratory was removed
to this city, and given quarters in the top
story of the Butler mansion, which is the
p aIf,r,o ~ Of fhn