to lay before the COUNCIL. read the following: Permission having been accorded he NEW ORLEANS, April 20, 1881. Dr. Gustavus Derron, care Sanitary Council: The following is the official copy of the resolutions adopted by the State Board, (the vote standing five to two, Booth and Marks dissenting), offered by the Board in order to allay apprehension in the public mind in the city and surrounding country. To secure a correct report of the first case or cases of yellow fever which may occur in this city, or within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Health, Be it resolved, That an agent of the National Board, to be stationed in New Orleans, shall have access to the daily reports of deaths received by the State Board, and of sickness when reports of sickness are made; and that whenever the agent of this Board, or the health authorities of the State receive information of the alleged existence of one or more cases of disease of a doubtful or suspicious character as to its being infectious, the State Board agrees to send one of its officers who, together with the agent of the National Board, shall investigate the case, the two parties presenting the result of their investigations to their respective Boards. Be it further resolved, That, in case the two parties disagree, a third physician acceptable to the two parties shall be selected by them as umpire. A majority report shall be final, and reported as such to the National Board in cipher. The inspector so appointed should have a thorough knowledge of all diseases of the Lower Mississippi Valley, especially yellow fever, and should personally be acceptable to the Board, in order to secure friendly relations and useful co-operation; and it shal the duty of said local inspector of the National Board of Health to be present at all the meetings of the State Board. Be it further resolved, That the President of this Board be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the President of the National Board and the President of the SANITARY COUNCIL OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. Regarding quarantine inspection, it was adopted that this Board is of opinion that it is without power to nominate or appoint any Mississippi quarantine station inspector whatever, and refers the matter of such nomination and appointment to His Excellency, the Governor. JOHN C. HENDERSON, Secretary of the New Orleans Auxiliary Sanitary Association. Dr. Devron explained at some length the attitude of the Louisiana State Board of Health, and after further discussion the communication was laid upon the table, to permit the COUNCIL to proceed to the election of officers for the ensuing year. This resulted in the election of Dr. J. J. SPEED, of Louisville, Ky., for President, and Dr. WIRT JOHNSTON, of Jackson, Miss., for Vice President. On motion, the Board adjourned until 2 o'clock P. M. AT the afternoon session, after the COUNCIL was called to order, the Secretary read the following communication from the Hon. S. C. Cobb, of Pensacola, Fla. : Honorable Members of the Mississippi Valley Sanitary Council: GENTLEMEN: Regretting that I cannot be with you in person on so momentous an occasion, involving such extensive interests, it seems proper to suggest, as our experience opens the way, what safeguards we ought to place along the path where blighted prospects, ruined hopes and household sorrows untold, strew the way with their skeletons, pointing the finger of warning for those who follow to the source of their woes. Not alone man's stupidity or cupidity can be called to account. From the propensity to ride hobbies, from the almost insane theories attaching to local privileges, we have been called to suffer great calamities and wide-spread disaster, and have been powerless to rescue where a privilege to prevent would have been humane, and primarily very cheap. We cannot call upon any local community to bear the whole burden-that would require large amounts of money and constant care-to provide against dangers that come from the yellow-fever sources. Therefore, it is imperative that the National government take full and complete charge of all maritime quarantines, and by their own officers, at their own quarantine stations, maintain that vigilance that they are called upon to exercise against any foreign enemy. The consideration of expense cannot enter into the matter, for the Nation now receives from our diminishing commercial marine a surplus of not less than one million of dollars, levied on such proerty, without any return being made to it either in direct or indirect benefits. If United States tonnage ventures to seek business from foreign ports, a special tax of thirty cents per ton is levied in addition to the usual custom-house fees and hospital dues. Let the Nation only expend the revenue it receives from this extraordinary tax, and not one case of fever can enter our country. We need to agitate, and must agitate this matter until the National government insures the safety and immunity from epidemic diseases of not only the local ports of the respective States, but all the great highways of inter-State commerce as well. Agitate, gentlemen; continue to agitate until the voice of an intelligent public opinion shall compel our Congress to treat this matter, of such vital importance, with the consideration it demands. Yours truly, S. C. COBB. The communication as read was accepted, and ordered spread upon the minutes. The Secretary read the report of the committee on the Quarantine Classification of Freight, at the conclusion of which the President remarked that the subject was one of the most important, in its practical bearings, that had come before the COUNCIL, and that a full and free expression of opinion was desirable. Dr. R. W. Mitchell would like to hear Capt. O'Neal's views as one directly interested. That gentleman said he was perfectly satisfied with the report and the exclusion of the articles mentioned therein, and he considered. if it was rigidly carried out, reasonable protection would be assured, Upon a further call from the President for dissent, criticism or amendment, Dr. Plunket, of Tenn., said that he considered there was no room for any whatever, and he moved to adopt it as read. The report thereupon was unanimously adopted, and the Secretary was instructed to secure its printing in proper form and distribution to the various transportation companies and health authorities in the Valley, which was done in the following form: -14 QUARANTINE CLASSIFICATION OF FREIGHT. SANITARY COUNCIL OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, At the session of the SANITARY COUNCIL OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, held this day in the city of Evansville, Ind., the Secretary of the COUNCIL was instructed to have printed, for the information of transportation companies, the classification of articles of merchandise for quarantine purposes as adopted by the COUNCIL. The preparation of this classification was undertaken at the request of the river and rail transportation companies, with a view to securing protection alike to shippers and the companies during the existence of a yellow-fever epidemic, by having an authoritative declaration of articles of freight considered dangerous as contagioncarriers, and which declaration may furnish the basis of uniform rules for health boards and quarantine authorities. As a result of its deliberations, the COUNCIL unanimously adopted the following MEMORANDUM FOR A CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICLES OF MERCHANDIZE FOR QUARANTINE PURPOSES. In the following suggestions for a classification of articles of merchandise for quarantine purposes during the existence of epidemic yellow fever, it is assumed that this disease is "due to a specific particulate cause which is capable of growth and reproduction," and which is transportable, not only by adhesion to surfaces, but in the air from an infected locality. "It is also prudent to assume that the growth and reproduction of this cause [i. e., the yellow-fever poison] is connected with the presence of filth in the sanitary sense of that word, including decaying organic matters and defective ventilation."-Circular No. 5. National Board of Health, July 12, 1879. It follows from the first assumption, that closed vehicles, compartments or receptacles, and articles or masses of material capable of retaining air motionless in meshes, folds, webs or interstices, are dangerous as contagion-carriers in proportion as their character, use or structure prevents or retards aeration; and from the second assumption, in proportion as such articles or materials furnish organic matter liable to decay. Hence, an empty box-car or the unventilated hold of a vessel in ballast may be the means of introducing the poison by transporting infected atmosphere, while goods from the same locality might be innocuous if thoroughly exposed to the open air during transit. Two practical deductions from the foregoing premises are: First. Box or close freight cars should not be allowed to leave an infected locality until after special treatment. Such treatment should embrace: (a). The thorough cleansing and washing of the interior of the car by means of a hose or in some similar drenching manner. (b). Its immediate disinfection (while still wet) by burning sulphur--eighteen ounces to each 1,000 cubic feet of space-all openings to be closed as perfectly as possible for at least six hours. (c). Its removal within ten hours after beginning the sulphur combustion, and before being opened, to a point at least five miles from the infected locality, at which point it should be opened and thoroughly ventilated by a fire in each end for the space of six hours, or by the forced injection of pure air by means of a fan blast and flexible hose.* It would be better, however, to absolutely prohibit the removal of a box-car from an infected locality, except in the case of through shipments beyond the region where yellow fever may become epidemic. For the same reasons, the transportation from an infected locality, of goods of any description, in the closed hold or unventilated cargo-box of a steamboat, barge, or other water-craft, should be prohibited; and no boat, barge, or other water-craft should be permitted to depart from an infected port without ample and efficient ventilation of all compartments during the voyage or trip. Second. Articles not believed capable in themselves of conveying contagion, may be made dangerous by the character of their packing. A chemically clean article, if packed with sawdust, straw, cork-paper, or similar material in an infected atmosphere, may be the means of infecting the individual who opens the package. Not only this, but there is reason to believe that contagion has been carried from an infected locality in boxes, barrels, and similar receptacles, simply by means of the contained air. Original packages of goods which have been stored in an infected locality are dangerous in proportion as their packings or envelopes allow access of the infected air to the contents. Thus, bottled liquids in wicker baskets or hampers; canned goods in crates or slat boxes; earthenware, crockery, etc., in loose-jointed barrels, casks or open crates; textile fabrics in bagging or sacking, etc., would be dangerous, when the same goods in tight wooden boxes, barrels or casks, or in metal cans or cases, would not be dangerous, or only remotely so. SCHEDULE OF ARTICLES DECLARED CONTRABAND OF QUARANTINE. With the foregoing explanation the following list of articles is submitted, with the recommendation of the SANITARY COUNCIL OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, that they be declared contraband of quarantine, in the belief that they are dangerous as contagion-carriers, and their removal from a place infected with yellow-fever to any other point where yellow-fever may become epidemic, should be prohibited. This recommendation does not, however, extend to freight packed in close receptacles or vehicles for through shipment to points outside the epidemic region of yellow fever. Articles of every description packed in wool, cotton, hemp, flax, jute, straw, sawdust or similar material. *This seems to be the only available method of securing a complete change of air in the ends of box cars as at present constructed. If they were provided with doors in the ends. opening from roof to floor, they could be readily ventilated without fire. Horizontal shutters, one foot deep and extending across the car from side to side-one opening down to the floor, one up to the roof, and one midway between-would probably answer every purpose. If ventilated by heat, the stoves should be placed as near the ends as safety from fire will permit; it is the few feet of dead air in these localities which is dangerous, and which requires to be displaced. Bellows. Bran. Broom corn. Boats, barges and other water-craft, unless clean and well venti lated. Mail matter, (unless subjected to disinfection.) Matting, cotton, hemp, straw or wool. Mattresses. Meats, fresh. Merchandise of any description so packed as to retain air from an infected locality. Moss. Oil cake. Paper. Personal baggage, (unless subjected to disinfection). Poultry, Rags. dressed. Railroad cars, upholstered, box or close freight. Roofing, felt. Saddles, stuffed. Seeds of all kinds. Shorts. Skins of all kinds. Soap stock. Tarpaulins. |