Evening star., 1948-07-16

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parents bring children for examinations {
Today is the sesquicentenary Of the United
States Public Health Service. It was on July
16, 1898, that President John Adams signed the
bill to which it traces back. Edward Livingston
of New York, . member Of the Fifth Congress,
was its sponsor. His purpose was to provide
for the treatment of sick and disabled seamen.
The cost of their care was to be financed by
deduction of 40 cents q month from each mar
iners wages.
Critics of the project argued that 1t consti-
tuted double taxation, since seamen already
paid taxes at home; that 1t was unconstitu-
tional since 1T taxed particular group and
not the whole population, and that it violated
the sovereignty of the States, since 1t took out
of their hands the problem of itinerant sailors
and their welfare.
Friends Of the bill, on the other hand, insisted
that the care of mariners was matter OF
proper Federal concern, since seamen were
needed ito maintain maritime commerce and
to serve the Nation in time of war"
The debate was lengthy and strenuous, but
Livingston emerged q victor. BY curious chance
most Of his biographies fail to mention his con-
nection with the marine hospital SYSTEM They
tell how he was Mayor Of New York. later
moved to Louisiana and served in both branches
Of Congress from that State, then was sue
cessively member of Andrew Jacksons cabinet
and Minister to France; but they are silent
about what probably is his best claim on the
remembrance of his co,ntrymen.
How greatly hospital facilities were needed
$50 years ago may be understood from the fact
that there were at that period only three gen.
t. kha ,hNlA TN{f fel
New York, Boston and New Orleans, respective
ly. Each was autonomous, each followed an
independent policy of operation. The marine
hospital idea was constructive in that 1t fore
shadowed cooperative network for the whole
country Under the original statute, sums col
lected in given port had to be spent within
the same State BY 1902 this limitation was
scrapped and common pool was created to
finance all the marine hospitals. The first
center was at Castle Island, near Boston, where
barrack buildings were provided by the War
Department Dr. Thomas Welsh was put in
charge. He had two assistants-a steward ana
q nurse.
First Hospitals Too Near Shore.
In 1900, q hospital controlled by the State OF
Virginia at Norfolk was acquired. Next on the
list of centers was Charleston. then Newport.
A new marine hospital was built ut Boston In
1903. Unfortunately, the sites of these estab-
lishments were on the water front, so that sick
or injured seamen could reach them in boats
rowed from their ships" Floods all too fire.
auently swept through them, leaving mud and
filth to be cleared away. Improvement OF trans
portation subsequently made feasible the con-
struction Of new hospitals on higher, healthier
locations.
Early regulations stipulated that patients
must refrain from gambling, obtain permission
before leaving the grounds and perform useful
labor las soon as physically able" Some OF the
men given treatment were suffering from un-
usual diseases picked up" abroad, and by 1907
arrangements had been made for medical STU
dents to obtain clinical training In the marine
hospitals where those foreign ailments might
be studied During the War OF 1872 British
prisoners as well as American seamen were
received, and during the Civil War patients
from both the North and the South were adj
mitted.
An Army committee in 1887 recommended
the establishment of marine medical centers
in seven inland cities. The growth of the
system in numbers of personnel and IN geog-
raphy led to q lack Of coordination which In
turn resulted in the Act Of 1870 which nation
allied the marine hospital service ana raised
the monthly deduction from seamen's wages
to 40 cents. Dr. John M. Woodworth became
supervising surgeon in the new setup Tor
mer Army medical oficer, he reorganized the
whole coast-to-coast establishment developed
a CORPS of marine hospital physicians In uni
form assigned specifically to marine hospital
work and freed from political interference,
set oficers to study sanitary conditions on
ships and in ports and saw to it that candi-
dates for maritime employment were not hired
until they had passed physical examinations
His emphasis on preventive medicine became
a tradition of the service and still remains 50.
Yellow fever epidemics and cholera in 1873
directed public attention to the need for great
er Federal authority and brought about the
passage OF the first national quarantine law In
1878. But enforcement of this legislation wss
a duty of the marine hospitals only for few
months until q national board of health was
authorized. That experiment falling the job
of quarantining ships in American narpors was
restored to the marine hospitals-and extended
to inspection OF vessels sailing from foreign
ports-in 1883 DR.. John B. Hamilton at that
date was supervising surgeon. 1t was under his
MANAGEMENT that examination of Immigrants
was started In 1890.
Beginning Of Bacteria Quest
The new science of bacteriology meanwhile
had been recognised by the opening OF re-
search laboratory at the marine hospital on
staten Island in 1857. This center soon proved
50 useful that It was Transferred to washing
ton In 1891, occupying floor in the marine
hospital headquarters at New jersey avenue
and street Sc. and being known Is the
Hygienie Laboratory.
ny ls02 the broader activities and enlarged
responsibilities Of the service prompted
change Of name by authority Of Congress-to
Public Health and Marine Hospital service.
In 1905 the method Of financing was altered