Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-26
NECESSITY FOR REFORM
OBVIOUS.

The necessity for reform in the
Virginia quarantine situation Is so
obvious that the subject admits of no
argument. All parties concerned
agree that there sAould be change,
and the only question Is as to the
nature of the change. DIR. w. +.
Greasy State quarantine officer at
this port, who during the present dis
cussion is the. only interested or In
formed person who has publicly
claimed that the State service Is
necessary and desirable regardless
of whether or not the federal station
ut Old Point is maintained. admits
very frankly that the Virginia quaran-
tine as administered here and at Nor
folk is inefficient.
II is fact. and DR.. Greasy does
rot contend otherwise. that the local
quarantine office is wholly unequipped
TO handle any situation thai might
arise in the administration of an eff
iective quarantine service. The
Newport News officer is not even pro-
yided with the pots and kettles that
would be required for the simple
fumigation of ship, and the State
has provided no place for the seques-
tration and treatment of individuals
who may be found suffering from con-
tagious or infectious diseases aboard
vessel. If a vessel not subject 10
federal inspection should by any
chance be found, by the State officer,
to have contagious or infectious
disease aboard, the State officer would
be Obliged to appeal 10 the federal
officials at Old Point. Such a vessel
would be sent to the federal station
for fumigauon and to have the
diseased members OF her crew taken
ashore for seQuestration and treat
ment at Fisherman's Island. How
ever, it seems that it IL only in the
rarest sort of instances that ship
comes past OLD Point with contagious
or infectious diseases. DIR. Greasy
cites one case in which this occurred
many years ago: DIR. A. c. Jones.
who was State quarantine officer here
at that time. found smallpox aboard a
vessel and turned the ship over 10 the
United States authorities This ship
was not inspected at OLD Point. and
the State regulations did not require
that il be inspected here; DIT. Jones,
prac;icing his profession as a ply
stefan and not acting in his official
capacity. discovered the disease
aboard the ship. and did just what he
would have been obliged to do had the
matter be broug-, to his attention by
any other physician. OF course some
thing may happen al any time that
never has happened before. but the
fact that in all Of the years that both
the STATE and federal quarantine ser
vices have been administered. prae
teal protection has been given the
Virginia ports by the United States
authorities and the extra precautions
Of the State regulations have not ~
sailed in the apprehension q a single
case Of disease allowed 70 pass Oie
Point. would seem to prove that W
would be reasonably sure Of sdequai'
protection from the federal govern
nent should the state see az 4
withdraw from the quarantine field al
together.
One hing Is certain. either IN
State Of the federal service shous
be abandoned. AID the federal COS
crEment Is not going 20 abandon q
service a. long a. Virginia maintain
q service that Is aamitteu BY is or
officers 10 be Inefficient u VI
einia Eni provide an efnci~ut seryic'
n r. more than probable fhat n
CD Point station all BE- aboIishe.
New York sss Baltimore hzs
properly equspped stations, and n