THE PREVENTION OF CHOLERA. 715 



departure of dangerous vessels for the United States and Canada, to all State and 

 local health authorities in the country which may be interested in the same. 



We further recommend, in case of those foreign ports which have no con- 

 sular agents in this country, or no telegraphic communication with this country^ 

 and which are liable to transmit pestflence through commercial intercourse, that 

 one or more medical officers be chosen to visit such ports as often as may be 

 deemed neces^sary by the central health authority in this country, so as to give 

 trustworthy information of the health and sanitary condition of those places. 



Inasmuch as the Dominion of ( anada is equally interested with the United 

 States in protecting itself and the United States from the importation of dangerous 

 diseases, we suggest that Congress take such measures as will bring about con- 

 certed action with the Dominion and the British Government by which the con- 

 suls of this country or of England at foreign ports shall examine and take such 

 action as they may deem effective, and notify the authorities of such government as 

 has authority over any port to which any ship may sail in the United States or 

 Canada, in order that such government may be in a position to take effective meas- 

 ures against the importation of these diseases. We are gratified that the author- 

 ities of the Dominion of Canada and of the Province of Ontario have taken active 

 steps toward protecting the people of Canada and indirectly those of the United 

 States, by the adoption of extensive quarantine regulations. We feel, however, 

 that with respect to those regulations regarding the landing of passengers from 

 the mail steamers along the St. Lawrence, etc., further special regulations for 

 the thorough disinfection of the baggage and effects of all passengers, cabin or 

 steerage, as come from infected ports and places, should be carried out in a man- 

 ner similar to that recommended by the National Board of Health. Believing 

 that the importation of cholera into this country has usually attended the presence 

 of immigrants from infected countries, we therefore recommend that all such im- 

 migrants be prevented from landing at our ports until such time as the danger of 

 the introduction of cholera by them shall have passed. 



The inspection and quarantine service inaugurated by the National Board 

 of Health, and set forth in the paper by Dr. Smart before this Conference, but 

 which system is now inoperative for want of an appropriation by Congress, meets 

 with our cordial approval. To enable these protective measures to be carried 

 out, we recommend that Congress be urged in the strongest terms to legislate on 

 this subject at an early date in its coming session, and to appropriate such funds 

 as may be needful. The expenses incident to the work which has to be per- 

 formed at foreign ports, and the establishment of refuge stations at points on our 

 coast for the detention and treatment of infected vessels arriving from foreign 

 ports, should undoubtedly be borne by the National Government, and not by 

 individual States or municipalities, for the benefits accruing therefrom are general 

 and not restricted to localities, although some ports and cities on the coast may 

 have a more immediate interest in the matter than others in the in*-er'or It is 

 probably, howevei, that this national protective work rnay not be sufficient. 



It will undoubtedly delay and lessen the chances of invasion, but it may not 



