Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-27
xusl lot be Sent Germ Infested
Flesh Specimens By Post Khh'
oul Proper PrscaulIan.
OFFENDERS WILL eE PUisHEI
Postoffice Officials Give Notice That
Physicians Who Have Been Guilty
Of Violating Law In Past viii be
Lenientiy Dealt With, But There
viii be No Lenieney In Future.

i RICHMOND. VA, Aug 26.-Because
lphysiCians who have been accustomed
to use the mails for transmitting spec
linens OF sputnm and diseased tissue
for the purpose of analysis have not
complied with the United States postal
Negotiations regarding the way these
articles shall be packed. the local
poSt0!tice officials have called upon Dr.
Fnnion G.. Williams, head OF the State
Health Department to inform all phys
icians thus using the mails that nh,
LESS these regulations are complied
with the sender OF the packages re-
ferred to will be liable to arrest ana
punishment.
postofiice Inspector Calvert has
4 furnished DR.. williams with a copy
of the regulations, and the doctor VIII
| int them in the next monthly health
, bulletin IL Is pointed out by the
postofiice authorities that unless these
samples of infectious or contagious
diseases are properly enclosed the
package might very possibly break
and the disease be spread TO the EN-
yIoves of the pOstoftce In question.
: and in fact, might eontaminate the
Il mail III the Office and thereby trans
Init the disease 20 many cities.
Il These physicians who have already
|, been guilty OF an infractiOn Of the
posta, rules In this regard will be
dealt with lenientIy because II is be-
llieved that they have erred through
of the regulations. How
ever. after they have been notlneo
through the proper channels and then
PERSIST in the practice OF disregardins
!, the rules. they will be dealt with most
summarily.
i Several specific instances have been
!, called 10 the attention OF the, postal
: authorities. where packages contain
I ling germs of diphthcria did break, tat
, fortunately no Ill effects resulted. II
is desired to obtain the cooperation
of all physicians to prevent recur-
renee Of these accidents.
Text Of the Regulations
The regulations relating to sucn
packages are as follows:
Specimens Of diseased tissue may
be admitted to the mail for transmits
sion to United States. State or mum
cipaI laboratories. only when inciosed
} in mailing packages constructed In &C.
.ortiance with this regulation.
.. L:qAii culture, or cultures OF
. mic ro-organisms in media that are
fluid at the ordinary temperature be-
How A. degrees G. or lf3 degrees -
!are unavailable Such specimens may
b. sent In media that remain solid at
ordinary temperatures.
II }. Upon the outside Of every pack
LACE Of diseased tissue admitted to the
;, inai!s shall be written or printed the
, words Specimen for archaeological
. Examination This package 10 be
, treated as letter mail. No package
containing diseased tissues shalt De
, i, Iiyercd TO any representative Of anv
n said laboratories until permit
] shall have first been issued by the
POSTMASTER general certifying that
s,i6 institution has been found to be
Untitled. in accordance with the re-
cuircmenfs OF this regulation. to re-
ceiyc such specimens.
4 Packages used 70. conveying
through the mails pathological specf
uCus for meteorological examination
for diagnosis in cases Of suspected
iiphtneria, tub-riosis and other
coz aunicable diseases. shall be con
structcd and prepared as follows:
/. Ias The receptacle for moist spcci-
mems of diseased tissues shall Ne
strong glass vial or test tube, having
capacity no, greater than two nTams
The vial shall be covered. and maxi
waIcrrigsi ~ the US" Of meta
|, scrrx can and a rubber or feit washer
| which has been Immersed In melted
-. raraFfn. or, 10 a test tube h. used. II
ghaH bc covered with tightiy-iiiiins
FHbhCr cap.
! | tbJ The vial or test fube shall l."
rIacad inverted in a circular ain box.
which shall BE- made Of !. c. bTigat
iiEpiate. and have flush or counter
max bottom and soidered joints. and
rn' leo smaller thar one and one
ls:zhth inches In diameter and thee
linchc. long nor larger than ;ro and
iCne-qrarter inches IN diameter srd
lave and one hail inches losr. This
box shaII 10 closed by = metal screw
~sv-F and a rIIbber ~ felt washer. or
tightly fitting mc'si-sIiiinz cover. ana
shiH - 80 packed WITH absorbent
icoIoa. CLOSELY laid. hat tho glass or
ttest tubc contained therein shall be