Year: 1879

DR.. Turner, President, and DR.. Bill.


lings Vice President, of the National


Board of Health, have arrived in


Washington from Atlanta, whittier


they went to take part in the deliber-


ations of the Board and in the medical


conventions which have been in ses.


sion in that city.


DIR. Turner describes the session Of


the Board as an interesting and har.


monieus one. Although great disap-


pointment was felt on account of the
failure of the Harris yellow-fever bill,


which made provisions for carrying


into effect such plans as the Board


might fix upon, yet valuable results


will grow out of the meeting.


As the American Medical Associa-


ton was in session at Atlanta at the
same time, there were called to that
city the most eminent men of the pro-


fession from all parts of the country.


The Sanitary Council of the Mississip.
pi Valley, which contains many emf
inent medical men from the section


which was lately scourged by the yell


low fever, adjourned its meeting,


which had been called at Memphis,
and reassembled at Atlanta, where its
members could consult with those of
the National Board of Health. There
were present by invitation of the
Board, all the principal health and
quarantine officers Of the United
States.


A thorough comparison of viewsdis-
closed practical unanimity of opinion
with regard to the necessity for united
action, and there was general harmo-
ny of views as to what the action
should be. DIR Vanderpool, of New
York, gave the Board his opinion
based upon his extended experience
with its remarkable results as Health
Officer of New York. In general terms
it may be said that the testimony of
all the quarantine and Health Officers
was to the same effect, and that the
plans which the Board will recommend
to Congress for adoption as a national
quarantine system of laws will not be
dissimilar to those now in operation
in New York. This, it is believed,
will be a relief, rather than burden
on commerce, especially in Southern
ports. In New Orleans, for example,
where the quarantine laws already in
operation require a twenty days de-
tention of vessels coming from Havana,
no detention beyond that nesessary for
the publication of the vessel and car
90 will be recommended, and this
should not exceed five days from the
day of leaving Havana. The plans
decided upon will also include an in-
spection Of the vessel before sailing
from any infected foreign port, and
certain course of procedure while en-
route to America.


With regard to internal commerce,
the results were less definite, owing to
the fact that the Board had no oppor-
tunity to consult with railroad and
steamboat men, representing interests
which must be largely affected, In
the conclusions which were reached
the Board was governed to a consider
able extent by the recommendation of
the Sanitary Council of the Mississip-
pi Valley. In brief, these were as
follows: All steamboats,, before leav>
ing any seaport for inland points,
are to be examined by the sanitary au-
thorities and a certificate given in ac-
cordance with the facts. Ii, while on
their passage up the river, any cases
of fever should break out, authority is
to be given to order the infected vessel
back at once. No such authority now
exists anywhere. With regard to rail-
roads, a Gordon is to be established at
a distance of from twenty to sixty
miles around any place where the fe-
yer prevails, and passengers, baggage
and freight are to be examined and
transferred to other cars, and in case
cf necessity more rigorous measures
are to be applied to prevent the spread
of the contagion.


The feeling in al parts of the
South was represented as being very
earnest in regard to these matters;
and it is believed that shotgun quar-
anime, and even the destruction of
railroads and steamboats,, will be re-
sorted to by the people themselves in
case of another outbreak of the yellow
fever, if Congress should not provide
for a national quarantine system.
Among the conclusions.reached by the |
Sanitary Council of the Mississippi
Valley was one to the effect that in.
telligence should be Immediately sent
to all members of the Council when
ever a case of yellow fever should de-
velop itself in any place within the
knowledge of its members. Hereto
fore there has always been a disposi-
tion to conceal the presence of yellow |
fever.


Chattanooga Times: DR.. E. Nj. |
WIGHT was annoipted TnsDector of |