The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-11-03
STATE AND NATION INTERESTED
Health Officials of the Government Will
Ask Local Health Officials to Follow
Lives of Foreign Born Citizens in AL
Cities.

Immigrants bound for Kenosha from
foreign shores, particularly those from
Russia and Italy, of whom large num-
bers arrive here every twelve months,
are to be followed from their own land
to Ellis island and then clear to Ken
osha by health officials from those of
the nation to those of the city, county
and state, and a regular check is to be
kept on them hereafter, following the
cholera scare, which has served this use
full purpose.
Dr. William K Rucker of the United
States public health and marine hos
pital service, has left Ellis island for
Boston to confer with Commissioner
of immigration George B. Billings, the
port medical staff and officials of the
state board of health regarding the
new and comprehensive plan for
guarding the United States against
possible danger from cholera suspects
coming from Russia and Italy.
This plan contemplates a surveil
lance of immigrants from the infected
districts to their final destination in
the United States even though it be
in a remote settlement of the west.
Surgeon General Walter Wyman
and his officers have worked days
aod niobtc porfoo4inor +ho do+oi1e ond
now believe that with the cooperation
of state and municipal health authori-
ties which they request, cholera ep-
idemic in the United States would be
practically impossible.
The new system, which is supple
mentary to the rigorous medical exam
ination now made provides for reg
lstry of immigrants from Russia and
Italy by the immigrant inspectors at
each port on the Atlantic coast. The
bureau has prepared blank for the
use Of the inspectors whereby sim
pie system of checking and the writ
ing in Of the name Of the immigrant
and the town, street and number to
which he is going will make com
plete record of his origin and destina-
ton. 1t is estimated that at the port
of new York not more than half an
hour of extra work a day will be
caused the inspectors with the use of
this card, as they have the manifest
before them when examining the i'm
migrant for other purposes and need
only identify the person and make sure
that he has not changed his destination.
At the close of the day these "desti-
nation cards. will be collected by the
chief medical officer and Immediately
mailed to state boards of health.
The state health officials in return
will be requested to mail the cards
to the local boards of health. The
theory is that should a case of cholera
or any disease similar to cholera break
out the local officials would Immediately
be able to identify it and take prompt
measures, should the records show that
the place harbored persons coming from
cholera infested district. The truth
is that the bureau suspects that cholera
germs Turk in some persons longer than
in Others. The usual period of infection
is eight days, but it may be longer. On
that point Dr.. Wyman is not prepared
at present to speak. In any event the
bureau is determined to follow to the
doors of their homes ali immigrants
who may have been exposed to cholera
and to notify local health officers of
their presence in the community.
The treasury department. and the de-
partment of commerce and labor have
formally approved DR.. Wyman's plan,
hence it goes into operation with all
the force of the government behind it
as far as United States officials are con-
cerned. At first the local boards of
health must forward the cards at their
own expense, but as the cards are gov
eminent documents it may be that the
local authorities can be supplied with
franks.