714 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



composed of Henry P. Baker, Secretary of the Michigan Board of Health ; H. 

 P. Wolcott, Chairman of the Massachusetts Department ; S. S. Herrick, Secretary 

 of the Louisiana Board ; Peter H. Bryce, Secretary of the Provincial Board of 

 Ontario; J. H. Ranch, Secretary of the Illinois Board. 



There are three essential factors to the prevalence of cholera in this country 

 as an epidemic: (i) The importation of the disease by means of ships more or 

 less directly from its only place of origin in India; (2) local unsanitary conditions 

 favorable to the reception and development of the disease ; (2) persons sick with 

 the disease in some of its stages, or things infected by such sick persons, to carry- 

 it from place to place. These three factors naturally suggest the methods of 

 combating the disease, for which there is needed practical work, international, 

 national and inter-State, State and local. So far as relates to State and local 

 boards of health, their organization and activities are greater than ever before; 

 but it must be admitted that after cholera has been introduced into a country, 

 inland quarantines are not easily and sucessfully maintained, although efforts in 

 this direction are even then advisable. In view of the threatened introduction of 

 cholera into this country during the coming year, and the consequent immense 

 waste of life and property values through derangements of commerce, trade and 

 productive industries, it is the sense of this conference that the General Govern- 

 ment should maintain such a national health service as shall, by rigid inspection 

 at the port of embarkation, question the freedom from disease and infection of 

 all persons and things from infected districts ; and shall secure the surveillance of 

 such persons and things while on shipboard, and, when necessary, detention at 

 quarantine stations on this side for treatment and disinfection. 



In view of the present threatening aspect of Asiatic cholera, and the constant 

 danger from other communicable diseases occurring at foreign ports having com- 

 mercial relations with the United States, we urge upon Congress to provide for 

 the appointment and maintenance at all such foreign ports where cholera, yellow 

 fever, plague, small-pox, or scarlet fever exist or are liable to exist, of medical 

 officers of health, the same being either accredited consuls or attached to the 

 consulates. The duties of these officers shall be : To give notice, by telegraph 

 when practicable, of the existence or appearance of any of the above named dis- 

 eases to some constituted authority in this country ; to give notice of the depart- 

 ure of any vessel known or suspected to be infected for any port in the United 

 States; and, whenever requested by the master of any vessel about to load or 

 leave for this country, to inspect thoroughl} uch vessel in all her parts, and also 

 her cargo, her crew and passengers ; to use such cleansing and disinfection as he 

 may deem necessary, and to satisfy himself that all persons about to sail are free 

 from dangerous communicable diseases, are not recently from infected places, and 

 are properly protected from small pox, giving to her commander a certificate of 

 the inspection and of all precautionary measures taken. And it shall be the duty 

 of the central authority n this country to transmit promptly intelligence of the 

 existence of the above-mentioned diseases at foreign ports and places, and of the 



