Evening star., 1914-11-28

trea atment. she is remanded by the quar-
antine officer to the nearest quarantine
station.
Equipment of Stations.
'An inspection station requires little
equipment except some facility for
boarding vessels. A fully equipped
quarantine station. however, is another
matter. 1t should have adequate pro-
vision for boarding vessels and making
Inspections. even in rough weather. 1t
should have q large pier with deep wa
ter alongside for handling vessels, or
else floating craft of its own to take
alongside the vessels themselves. There
must be pparatus for mechanical
cleaning of vessels, and for disinfec-
ton by steam. sulphur and formalde-
hyde as well as for the use of disin-
fecting solutions. There should be hos
pitfalls for contagious diseases, doubtful
cases and other sick, detention bar
racks, houses for caring for passengers
and crews. bathing facilities, a crema-
tory. supply of water and proper
system for disposal of sewage.
THE duties of a quarantine officer are
foreign to the average doctor, and men
must be trained especially for such
work. AS part of his equipment the
quarantine officer must be posted on
the worlds health, especially with re-
gard to Quarantinable diseases. and
where such diseases are prevailing.
The public health service publishes a
weekly magazine called Public Health
Reports, which is devoted entirely to
such matters.
THE usual procedure. on boarding
the vessel, is first an examination of
the bills of health and a talk with the
master of the vessel. In this way in
formation is gathered as to the class
of vessel. her cargo and personnel
where she is from. what events Of
,rtn hay l1ln on
voyage. etc. Next is an inspection OF
the vessel. her cargo and personnel in
so far as may be necessary. Passengers
and crew. when necessary, are as
sembled on deck and their numbers
checked up with crew and passenger
lists and bills of health. If necessary,
temperatures are taken. and such fur
ther examination made as circum-
stances dictate. If the quarantine ofh-
Ger releases the vessel he gives the
master signed statement that his
vessel is free from danger OF conveying
auarantinable diseases.
"If, however, he decides to place tne
vessel in quarantine. she is ordefed 10
the quarantine anchorage ana her yer
low flag remains flying. The next step
ing with. how much infection there Is
on board, the character of the cargo
and other matters. If there are SICK
on board, these are taken ashore anu
put in an isolation hospital those
who have been exposed are placed
under observation till the incubation
period of the disease is passed When
necessary. clothes, bedding. etc, are
disinfected. The personnel having mus
been disposed of. the vessel Is no"
taken under charge. II plague IL 1us-
pected. the important question Is TO
kin rats on board: if yellow fever is
under consideration. mosquitoes must
be destroyed, and so on, all 1urther
treatment depending upon the disease
under consideration.
Fight Against Mosquitoes.
"One can readily understand now of
what great Importance is knowledge
as to the nature of these diseases and
their manner of spread. Before it was
known that yellow fever was spread
by mosquitoes and in no other way
much time and effort were expended
in disinfecting bedding and clothing
and even such things as rock ballast.
Now, with fuller knowledge, the quar-
antine officer pays no attention to such
things unless they harbor mosquitoes.
His sole aim is to rid the vessel or
and this is relatively easy.
So with plague and its carrier, the rat.
ITO give an idea of the work done by
the national quarantine establishment
the following may be quoted: During
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1913.
total of 12,s3S vessels were inspected
by the national quarantine establish
rnent OF this number 113 vessels were
placed in quarantine. Also during the
last fiscal year 1852 vessels were fumi-
gated either for the eradication of In
lection or else for the destruction of
the carriers of quarantinable disease,
such as rats and mosquitoes.
in conclusion it may be said that
the quarantine officers lot. like the
policeman's in a celebrated comic op-
era is not a happy one always, and in
his dealings with the public, or at least
that portion of it which may by his
order have to endure quarantine, he
often comes in for a hearty share of
undeserved condemnation. 1t should al
ways be kept in mind that he IS only
doing his duty, and that when he is
free to do SO no one is happier than
himself to see the quarantine flag
struck and the ship pass on to her des-
tination.'