The Washington times., 1902-04-22
Executive Committees
Suggestions Thought to
Be Beneficial.
CONSOLIDATION CT WORK
Desire Objections Placed in Writing
New Law Proposed to Govern Manu-
facture of viruses, Serums, Toxins,
Antitoxins, and Analogous Products.

One CT them related 10 a statement re-
Gently made to Commissioner Macfarland
that there were a great many physicians
in the city including members OF the
Medical Society, who were opposed TO the
consolidation of the official medical work
of the District of Columbia under one de-
pariEent.
DR.. Ko5er informed the Commissioners
that the report CT the executive commit
tee, in which the consolidation of such
work was rcccmme nded, was adopted by
the society al well attended meeting,
unanimously and without criticism. The
committee suggests that such objections
as may be fled against this report be
put into writing. so that at the proper
time they. together with the original re-
pert, can be considered as whole.
Report en- Senate Bill.
The second communication was n formal
report on Senate bill 1890 and House bill
1882, to regulate the sale of viruses,
serums, toxins, and analogous products in
the District of Columbia. to regulate in
terstate traffic in these articles, and for
other purposes. In their report the COM
mittee say in part:
Although the preventive and curative
powers of viruses, serums toxins. anti
toxins. and analogous products, when
properly prepared, has long since been
established certain unfortunate accidents
which have resulted from their admins
tration. notably those which recently oc-
CURED in St. Louis, Mo-, have tended to
6iscredit their use. The extreme value of
these preparations in preventing and cur
ing disease renders ii of prime import
ance, therefore. that action be taken to
preserve the confidence of the medical
profession and of the community generally
in them.
Equipment of Establishments
Most, If not all, of the establishments
now engaged in the propagation of ami
nal products CT this character are, it is
believed, we'll equipped for that purpose
but such products are propagated and sold
without legal restriction. Any kind of a
stable, little technical skill, and 4 fair
amount of nerve are all that is needed.
AS, however. the greater part of the out
put of these establishments is sold in
States other than those in which ii is
produced and as it IS inpracticable TO
insure the purity Of such materials ether
wise than by the supervision Of their man
rfacture. Individual States are powerless
TO protect themselves against impure and
impotent materials. For these reasons
Federal supervision is necessary.
Impossible to Secure Purity.
1T is impossible to insure the purity Of
the general stock offered for sale in a
community by testing an occasional vial
CT package purchased in the open market.
The prevailing methods Of sale are neces-
CARLY such that the material vendcd to-
Gay does not come except by mere chance
from the same animal as did that sold
yesterday or as will that to be sold to-
morrow. The examination of a certain
portion of each lot of material offered
Tor sale by each propagator. before allow
ing such stock to be placed upon sale,
would involve intolerable interference
with his business, and moreover the cost
Of maintaining ar efficient inspection
service on such a basis would be prohibit
tive.
Federal Supervision.
''The only feasible method of insuring
the purity and strength OF yiruses. Sc
runs, toxins, and analogous products
known to your committee is that which
this bill seeks to establish, viz. the regu-
Iation and supervision by the Federal
Government OF all establishments engaged
in the propagation and sale of such prod
ucts, so far as such establishments are
within its Jurisdiction. 1t seems. how
ever more in keeping with the spirit of
American institutions to separate the
legislative and the executive functions
which will be called into existence by
the passage Of this bill. and. in the pro-
mitigation of the proposed regulations tc
exclude the personal element as far as
possible With this end in view your
committee recomme nds that section four
Of the pending bill, which provides for
the PRONUNCIATION of regulations by the
Secretary OF the Treasury on the recon-
mendatica OF the Supervising Surgeon
General OF the Marine Hospital Service
be stricken out and the following inserted
in its place:
Amendment Proposed.
Section 4. That the Surgeon General Of
the Army, the Surgeon General of the
Navy. the Supervising Surgeon General of
the Marine Hospital Service, the chief OF
the Bureau OF Animal Industry of the De-
partment of Agriculture, and the Health
Officer of the District of Columbia. be,
and they are hereby, constituted board
with authority, subject to the approval
Of the Secretary of the Treasury. TO pro-
mulgate from time TO time such rules as
may be necessary in the Judgment of said
board TO govern the issue suspension, and
revocation of licenses for the maintenance
OF establishments for the propagation and
preparation of yiruses. serums, toxins
antitoKins, and analogous products, ap-
plicabIe to the prevention and cure OF dis
eases of man, intended for sale IN the Dis
trict of Columbia, or TO be sent, carried
or brought for sale from any State, Ter
ritory, OF the District of Columbia. into |
any other State, Territory, or the District |
of Columbia, or from the United States |
into any foreign country, or from any |
foreign country into the United States: |
Provided, That all licenses issued for |
the maintenance of establishments for the |
aud preparation in any for
eign country Of any virus, serum, toxin, |
or product aforesaid, for sale |
barter, or exchange in the United States,
shall be issIed dton condition that the
hcentiates will permit the inspection OF /
the establishments where said articles are |
propagated and prepared, in accordance |
with section 3 OF this act.
Section 5. That the Secretary Of the |
Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized |
and directed TO enforce the provisions of |
this act and Of such rules and regulations |
as may be made by authority thereof; to |
issue. suspend. and revoke licepses for |
the maintenance of establishments afore- |
said; and to detail for the discharge of |
such duties such officers. agents, and en-
ployes OF the Treasury Department as /
may in his judgment be necessary.
''Thc executive committee recommends |
that The bill amended as suggested be in |
dorsed by the Medical Society, and that |
the executive committee be authorized TO |
take whatever action may be necessary to |
secure Its enactment