Evening star., 1914-04-12

Oncie sam IS exercising more and more
care each year in the examinations of the
thousands of imni
ocrut1nlZlng grants who are leav-
Immiuran+e ing foreign lands to
seek homes in the
United states. In the past statements
nave been made charging that the gov
ernment is too lax in passing on the phys
ical and mental fitness of immigrants, but
study of the report of the last years
work of the public health service physi-
clans who examine immigrants will show
tnat every man, woman and child enter
ing this country must meet strict health
requirements before being permitted to
pass the immigration officials.
Under the direction of Surgeon General
rupert Blue a system of examination has
peen developed which makes difficult the
entry OF the physically or mentally unfit.
xAecorulfs 10 the report which the public
heaitn service has just issued to cover
'he work OF the last fiscal year. ending
June 80, 1913. the governments medical
ofncers examined 1,574.371 immigrants at
ports in the United States and i+s do
pendencies, Porto Rico and Hawaii This
u H.
porary or non-immigrant arrivals who are
the alien residents of the United States
making temporary trip abroad and all
fliiehS residing abroad and making a tenn
porary trip to the United States The
permanent immigrant arrivals in the
800 ei i'i'''-
Out of the aliens examined. 3S 55S urera
certiiied TO the office of the United States
l'liaisratlon bureau, of the Department
OF LABOR, for physical reasons The i'm
migrants IN who failed to pass the examipa-
.ioh OF the public health officers were di-
vlded into four classes Out of the 3s
2os detectives discovered 1869 were held
because of ldiocy, feeble -mindedness eni
iepsy, insanity or tuberculosis. The sec
ond class included those affected with
ioathsome, contagious or dangerous dis
eases. and of persons so afHictea +ha,sa
We're 5.397 'ieie
The largest number of detectives held
UP by DR.. Blues medical officers were
persons VINO had some disease or defect
Whlch AFFECTS ability to earn a living. and
III IN this class there were 1858 certified
ne fourth class included persons with
some disease or defect of less degree Of
winch there were 11.9S7. In the last two
classes there Were many persons who
could be cured. and admitted after sim
PIE medical treatment. or. in the case of
certain detectives, could be admitted after
friends or relatives had furnished bond
against their becoming a charge on the
community.
Trachoma was the most important dis
ease for which immigrants were held IN
at the various ports, and 27O4 were GER
titled as having this infectious disease of
the eyes. Feeble-mindedness came next
with 'S4 certificatons, followed by $40
cases OF social diseases 30 persons with
insanity and 161 with tuberculosis.
The governments medical inspection Of
alien immigrants is s.conducted at eighty
three stations, and last year DR.. Blue
assigned thirty-one commissioned officers
and fifty-two acting assistant surgeons to
the work. In addition, a large number of
public health service officers primarily
detailed to other service duty. have ex-
amined aliens whenever presented to
them. Officers of the service stationed
at consulates for quarantine duty in Italy
have also made inspections of departing
aliens at the request OF the Department
of Labor.