Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
THE PUBLIC HEALTH
How the Federal Government
Exercises Control.
SERVICE. REORGANIZED
NEW Law STRENGTHENS HANDS
.sEsHF,
OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.
State Jurisdiction Not Interfered With
Will Tend to Secure Uniformity
of Quarantine Regulations.


A chapter telling what the federal gov
eminent has done toward acting the guar
| dian over the public health of the nation Is
one of peculiar interest at this time, just
as the reorganization of the public health
and marine hospital service of the United
states has been perfected under the legis-
lation of July Of last year. This service
was organized first In 179S. solely for the
purpose of caring for the health Of sick and
disabled merchant mariners. Out of this
simple beginning have grown many phases
of medical supervision. with results which
cannot be estimated by any comparison.
Gradual Growth.
The first step in advance was the estab-
lishment of a medical laboratory, on the
ground that it was necessary to investi-
gate diseases to which sailore were subject.
Later an appropriation was obtained for a
new building for this laboratory, and then
came legislation enlarging its scope by CIV
ing authority for the investigation of dan
gerous contagious diseases which might
affect the public health. Medical jurisdic-
tlon was next given over the revenue cutter
service or the Treasury Department with
Its large personnel. The life-saving service
was next included under the jurisdiction
OF the marine hospital service, SO far as a
medical examination of applicants for the
service and general supervision of the
health OF the personnel of the life-sayer
were concerned. When Congress passed
us immigration laws it became evident that
there should be a careful examination OF
aHens. This medical work naturally fell
to the only organized doctor which the
government had, and was assigned to the
same service
Perhaps the most important DEVELOPMENT
OF an was the extension of the service in
making effective the national quarantine
laws the first of which were passed in 1898.
charged since that time with the enforce
ment of these laws. Included in these quar-
anime laws are the interstate quarantine
reguiauons, which seek to prevent the
from one state to another The general
management OF the endeavors to suppress
an epidemic in the country Is also the work
OF this service. The quarantine law also
at foreign ports before their departure to
the United States. This necessitated the
establishment Of a foreign quarantine serv-
Ice, which was also delegated to the marine
| hospital SERVICE
Banner Year Of the Service.
The year ending June &c. 1899, was in
some respects the banner year Of the ser
vice. so far as work is concerned. During
this year $1,000 merchant sailors were
treated at the hospitals Of the service; more
than 100000 immigrants were examined at
ports of entry to the United States: 1900
surfmen in the life-saving service were ex-
amined; nearly 1900 applicants for
plots licenses were examined for color
blindness; service was also rendered
TO employees of the coast and geo.
detic survey. and the naval reserve and
10 the army and navy. whose patients were
treated In marine hospitals on special oc-
caslons. During that year. also. yellow
fever prevailed at the Soldiers Home at
hampton, Va, and existed also at several
points In Florida, Louisiana and Misss-
sippi, although 1t was not allowed to ma
terially spread. During this year. also.
quarantine establishments were maintain
ed az the seaports of Cuba. Porto Rico and
In Mexico, on account of yellow fever, as
well as at seven fruit ports In Central
America. 1t also maintained a national
quarantine in the Philippines, and had off,
GERS In Hawaii, and In various parts of
number of ports in Europe. The service
employed during this year $50 physicians
~ hospital stewards and 2, 300 other assist
ants
The Reorganization Act.
This gives fair idea of the extent of the
service at the time Of the passage of the re-
cent act authorizing a reorganization of its
several bureaus. The new law gives a re-
newed Impetus to the service although 1t
did not necessitate the appropriation of any
additlonal funds for its maintenance The
new law. among other things. secures by
statute the salaries of the medical officers
ol me service, thing which was a mere
matter of regulation heretofore. It digni-
f1es the corps of medical officers, which now
numbers about one hundred by having
them appointed by the President by and
with the advice OF the Senate. The medical
corps Is considered to be a uuasi-miIitarv
basis, and under the new law the President
Is required to make proper regulations for
the governing Of the service and prescribe
a uniform for the officers. The title of the
head of the service is changed by the new
law from Supervising surgeon general" to
simply Surgeon general" which is now DR.
Walter Wymans official title
Perhaps the most important hearing tho
new law will have on the future health of
the nation Is contained in two or three
short sections, In which the service Is
brought into as close relations with state
and municipal health authorities as 1t
seems practicable to do under our form
of government. These particular reeula-
lions prescribe that annual conferences
may be called by the surgeon general one
| member of each state health organization
to have representation at the conference
These conferences are to be distinctively
| advisory in character, but it is predicted
| that out of them will come measures of
great Importance and utility to the health
of the nation. In addition to this annual
| conference. which the law requires must
De held, the surgeon general Is authorized
| in his discretion to call other conferences
of health officers from many states as
| he may deem proper for the purpose of
| considering any particular subject relating
| to health matters.
Conference on the Plague.
The law also provides that upon the petit
ton of the health authorities Of five or
more states, such a conference shall be
| called by the surgeon general of the states
| Joining in the petition. Acting under this
| last provision SOME twenty states joined in
| a petition for a conference to take action
regarding the San Francisco plague situa-
| ton last winter: The conference was held
| that measures have been taken whereby
! the plague on the Pacific coast has been
| gotten under entire control. Suggestions
| were adopted for certain sanitary measures
| In Cbjpo touyu San FranciscO md ma ttoro