Evening star., 1902-07-30
SANITARY CONFERENCE
Meeting Postponed Until
Next December.
OBJECT OF CONVENTION
DELEGATES FROM CENTRAL AND
SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
Surgeon General Wyman of Marine
Hospital Service Gives Outline
of Program.

board of the International Board of Ameri-
Republics, the action being taken in
order that the delegates 10 the conference
might attend the meeting of the American
Public Health Association to be held in
New Orleans December S.
Great results are expected from this con-
ference in view of what the United States
has done in Cuba and Porto Rico in the
way of establishing sanitary regulations,
with results so satisfactory to the public
health Of those islands, and also in view of
the sanitary resolutions adopted in the City
of Mexico at the second international con-
ference of the American states, all of which
has had a potent influence in awakening
interest in the matter of public health
among the South and Central Amer can
countries.
Object of the Convention
The object of this convention is to en-
courage friendly cooperation between the
health organizations of the several repub-
lies in the matter of quarantine and sani-
tation.
With regard to quarantine the delibera-
tions of the convention will be with a view
to making it an adequate protection against
the introduction of disease from one coun-
try to another, at the same time making it
50 reasonable that it may be maintained
with as little annoyance to commerce
possible.
With regard to sanitation. the delibera-
tions of the convention will be with a view
to bringing about such sanitation of sea-
ports as will cause epidemic diseases to
disappear therein and make such diseases
readily manageable and suppressible in the
event of their chance introduction.
Tentative Program.
The conference will be held at the Will
lard Hotel. and tentative program of pro-
cedure has already been outlined by Sur
geon General Wyman. This includes:
Calling convention to order, election of
temporary chairman address of welcome
appointment of committee on organization
by temporary chairman, election of officers
and appointment of committees by the
president of the convention.
Reports from the delegates of each re-
public will then be read. Each report will
contain: A summary of the sanitary and
quarantine laws and organizations of the
republic; descriptive account of the quaran-
tine stations and their management; pre-
Nalilng diseases. past and present, with spe-
clal mention of yellow fever, malaria
plague. cholera, smallpox, typhus, typhoid
and tuberculosis; special dangers to which
each republic is subjected from neighbor-
ing republics; special sanitary work now in
progress and proposed.
Under the head of a discussion on Quaran-
tine, the following topics will be suggested:
International notification of epidemic dis
eases, principles of quarantine with refer
enCe to special diseases principles of in
spection, quarantine stations and appli-
ances. disinfection
SANITATION OF SedpOrtS VIII form another
branch of the discussion. and will include:
Sanitary Improvement of harbors; sewer
age; soil drainage. paving. eliminat ton of
Infection from buildings; sanitation of
oWellngS-llght, air, water and prevention
of OyerCrOwding
The scientific investigation of comnluni-
cable disease will be discussed under the
subtopic of What Is Being What Has
Been. ard What May Be Done" Including
reports from each country
An executive board will be elected to be
known as international sanitary bureau
Inc report OF the committee on time and
place for the next sanitary convention of
American republics will conclude the con-
ference.
already indicated their intention Of sending
delegates To this conference. The United
states VIII be represented by seven or
eight delegates. representing both national
state ana municipal health organizations.
Results Expected.
similar conference was held in 1855
and while much good was accomplished. it
Is believed by Surgeon General Wyman. as
well as otheg public health officials, that
this meeting Will mark the beginning of a
new era of intelligent cooperation among
the countries lying to the south of the
nlted States for better quarantine and
health regulations.
The resolutions passed AT tho inrarra
tonal conference of the American states III
The City OF Mexico at the beginning of this
year, II Is believed. show the advance on
quarantine matters which has been mad
and also indicate that the delegates to the
forthcoming convention will undoubtedIv
have power to act for their countries in the
adoption OF advanced methods and uniform
practices.
Resolutions Passed in Mexico.
These resolutions are regarded as an i'm
por;ant foundation for the December con-
ference. They recited:
That all measures .,,l
jects of international quarantine the pre-
vention OF the introduction of contagious
diseases into country, and the establish
ment and control of maritime and of inter
national land detention or health stations
shall be wholly within the control of the
national government.
That there shall be established In the
ports OF each country TWO kinds of dete.!-
sioI Id' that ior inspection or observation,
and tb) that for disinfection.
That prohibitive quarantine on r,ap,
tactures and merchandise shall be abolish
ed and that merchandise proceeding from
HOn-infected ports or places and whfo+
passes through infected territory vitho,,,
being detained therein beyond the nfces-
sary time OF transit. shah not be subject to
detention or other sanitary measures he-
yond that of the inspection which MAJ 10
considered necessary at its destination anJ
that such inspection and delay shall NOT
exceed the time absolutely necessary there
Tor Further, that this same Regulation
shai apply equally to international com
munication by railway. provided that live
stock, hides, rags and immigrants effects
De excepted from the above provisions
Cooperation on Quarantine Matters.
That the governments represented III this
conference shall cooperate with each other
and lend every possible aid to the municipal
provincial and local authorities within the!-
respective limits. toward securing and main
tanning efficient and modern sanitary condi-
tions In all their respective ports and terri
tories, to the end that quarantine restric-
lions be =.