Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01
Continued from First Page

Continued from First Page.l
ton. This includes history of the
ship ports it has touched. the cargo II
carries, and, in addition. a physical in
spection of officers and crew. The Gov
eminent maintains about 100 quaran-
tine stations. When necessary ships are
fumigated and diseased passengers are
transferred to shore hospitals. The ex-
pense for this extra service is not borne
by the Government.
1t was long known that smallpox. yell
low fever. cholera and bubonic plague
we're introduced by sailors from foreign
vessels. Health Service doctors noted
that If these cases were isolated the
spread of the disease would be curtailed
Thus was developed our quarantine
service.
A recent DEVELOPMENT in Guarding
| this country from the introduction OF
disease was the establishment of a for
eign medical service. Thirty-seven
health officers are now detailed with
American consulateS in Europe. Amer
lean consuls will not grant Europeans
visas to this country unless they pass
health examinations by American doc
tors, Under this plan much of the old
heartache and anguish is eliminated
when the immigrant lands at Ellis
Island, II an applicant is found unfit.
his Journey TO America ends in Paris.
Berlin. Amsterdam or Home. and his
tears are shed on European soil. Poor
immigrants save their steamship fare.
too American doctors abroad have no
bed OF roses, either. At English ports
alone they annually examine no fewer
than 10000 applicants for visas to the
States
4 VALUABLE service to public health
"A officials. and foreign observers as
well, is the system devised by the health
service for feeling the Nations pulse,
DR. Uncle Sam guards. day and night,
against any sudden outbreak Of an
epidemic. His agents, scattered from
Portland. Me, to Portland. Greg. file
daily Geographic reports of the prev
alence of Illness and disease in their
respective communities. The clearing
house for the Nation, the place where
the country" doctor watches and
listens, Is Washington. AS these tele-
graphic reports arrive they are charted
on large wall graphs. where they may
be studied and reflected upon by the
eminent doctor himself This years
graph Is superimpoSed on graphs for
the past two years. and what the savant
learns from all his deliberations and
cogitations is what guides him In his
wisdom and reflects itself In the virile
Nation whose health ranks second only
to Its prosperity.
Let some scourge blaze forth in the
backwoods OF Tennessee or the deserts
OF New Mexico, and DR. Uncle Sam
puts on his critical specs and weighs
the matter with balanced Judgment, II
Ii looks ominous. he may inquire for
further particulars, II II appears dis
astrouS, he shifts one OF his lieutenantS
10 the scene. Such fond guardianship
is worthy Of great Nation.
But while his tentacles stretch to the
hidden corners Of the land he Is no
less watchful of his subjects on the sea,
American merchant sailors are better
protected against illness than the sea-
men OF any other country. Should one
of our merchant Seamen develop boil
on his neck. cramp In the leg or a
headache. medical advice Is as close
to him as II a doctor OF medicine were
his bunkmate,
Through courtesy of commercial COM
panles, the health service has eStab-
iished a system OF radio medical adj.
vice that for originality and effective
ness Is one of the wonders of the age.
II Is on record. and II has been re-
peated hundreds Of times, that within
ID minutes after q request for aid was