The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-05-17

KIN E 8
QUARANTINE
j Haskin.
oculation Is made from cultures taxi
en- from patients having BFsil 8 DIS
ease. a mild form OF typhus discoy-
erred by Dr.. Brill in New York NUM-
her OF years ago
Public sentiment has changed COM
ip1efely as regards its attitude. TO the
quarantine service Formerly, snip
owners. captains. ship surgeons and
many passengers looked upon It as.
needless red tape, and IN too many
instances attempted TO conceal dis
eases. which were menace TO rnei
ports they entered. Education has
taught the nation that any epidemic
is a blot upon its health roll. as Well
as an ayoidabie risk of life and waste
o. money The pnblic health service
has been organized to prevent this
risk and waste so far as POSSIBLE. It's
quarantine service is one OF It's
strongest branches. because OF the
number OF diseases likely TO be-
brought in by ships from foreign
ports. many of which have no health
restrictions.
The maritime quarantine service OF
this country now includes sixry-four
stations. among them the leading
ports of continental United Sta1es: be-
sides large stations and su5-stations
at Porto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pine islands. It is under the dIrec-i
ton OF DR.. Leland E Cofer. assistant
surgeon general of The United States
and at each station, properly quafmed
medical officers and their assistants
are prepared TO follow out in detail
the provisions and regulations which
have proved most efficient In prevent
ing disease being brought into the
country from foreign ports
The quarantine stations include
suitable quarters for the dlnerent
classes Of passengers. who would have
to be detained if case OF infectious
or contagious disease were found up
on board They would be compelled
to leave the vessel IN. order that 1t
might be ftlmigated under the dlrec-
ton OF the health officers before IT
could Se permitted to enter port IN
der these conditions passengers are
regarded as the guests OF the United
States government, and special pains
have been taken to insure their com
, fort, and TO make their detention as
short as Is cOuS1StGuI VIII LIZ <AOSSs
lutte safety OF the public
a disinfecrins wharf at each quar-
anime station provides. the best known
facilities for speedy and thorough dis
Infection Storage passengers taken
from an infected vessel are passed
through shower bath alleys, and sup
piled with fresh clothing to wear
While their own clothing is being dis
/; infected. As over ninety per cent OF
the con.a gious diseases brought into
| this country are brought by storage
passengers. the utmost care IS USED
| to insure their freedom from infec-
ton.
| The studies continually being made
| as TO the nature of communicable dis
! ease have materials 1essened the per
| Tod of detention at quarantine sta
] tons. II now ranges from five to
4 fifteen days. according to the nature
| Of the disease, ard also at the dis
erection OF the officer in charge OF the
| station Cao!era- yellow fever, ty
| plus. smallpox ard plague are the
diseases most often encountered. .Iae
! plague is most frequently commu1l-
icated by rats and the destruction OF
the rats upon an infected ship Is one
!; of the most important OF the quara1-
tine measures.
| Most OF the quarantine work of this
country is now in the hands OF the
!: federal authorizes. AS the result of a
] conference last week, arrangements
/ have been mace iof the .ptlSiie ne.sisa
!: service 10 take over tue qua s aittsn
( work OF Boston s 1c,.s 1880 81
men. vii. be made IN Galveston WITH
! in a few weeks The increase in dis
Sane r rsades it i imperative that the
utmost vigilance should be sa3 exercised ssie,.