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QUARANTINE AND SMALL-POX. 



By J. Ashburton Thompson, M.D. Brux., Dipl. Publ. Health 

 (Jamb. ; Chief Medical Inspector of the Board of Health of N.S. W. 



{Bead before the Sanitary Section of the Royal Society of N.S. W., 18 Oct. ,1887.'] 



I venture to ask your attention while I make some general remarks 

 upon quarantine against small-pox. A tendency, at present 

 perceptible, to rely upon that measure for more protection than 

 it can possibly yield, gives occasion for them ; but 1 do not propose 

 now to say much, because, whatever my opinions may be worth, 

 I have at all events made them known in various publications 

 during the past live years. 



I must remind you first that the subject is eminently technical 

 in this sense ; that it can be examined profitably only in the light 

 of that practical experience which the records of civilized 

 countries during the last three or four centuries afford. The 

 promises of quarantine are fair and full, and at the first blush, 

 or even after study, seem easy of performance ; but tested by the 

 event they are found pretentious, and a snare to those who trust 

 them unreservedly. To demonstrate this from the source alluded 

 to would be easy, but it could scarcely be done within reasonable 

 space ; it is moreover unnecessary, for the experience of our own 

 country and of our own age suffices. 



I will next quote the fourth resolution of the Australasian 

 Sanitary Conference of Sydney, 1884, namely, "Vessels infected with 

 small-pox are those which have borne a case of that disease during 

 the voyage ; " and I point out that the restrictions of ancient 

 quarantine were thus excluded from applying to ships which 

 merely hail from infected ports. The Delegates who deliberately 

 and unanimously affirmed this proposition were (myself excepted) 

 the principal medical officers of the seven Governments represented; 

 and these gentlemen had for years been practically engaged in 

 restraining the entrance of sea-borne disease by means of quarantine. 

 It is a fair assumption that they knew at least as much of the 

 subject of their deliberations as others know. Nevertheless it 

 seems that now, in the face of some danger from Tasmania, more 

 than one of the Governments then represented by their most 

 experienced officers are unwilling to act on the conviction so clearly 

 expressed by the latter, and actually have reverted to the practice 

 of ancient quarantine by enforcing the law against all 

 vessels hailing thence. Upon this point I do not propose to 



