836 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION T. 
8. — FEDERAL QUARANTINE. 
By Dr. K. I. O' DOHERTY, F.R.C.S. 
I propose to bring under the notice of this learned Conference 
probably the most interesting sanitary question of the day, involving 
as it does the problem whether we in Australia shall follow the example 
set us by our Imperial sanitary authorities in abolishing our quarantine 
establishments — our old and time-honoured instruments of protection 
from infectious and contagious disease — consigning them to the 
“ Limbo of exploded superstitions/’ to use the language of our 
Imperial cousins, or shall we, guided by the almost unanimous advice 
of our Australian sanitary authorities, still stand by our citadels, 
simply modifying them with a view to rendering them more effective 
at least cost and trouble. 
I confess to being one of those who arc prepared to stand by 
quarantine for Australia, modified according to the views first pro- 
mulgated by Dr. McKellar, of Sydney, eleven years since, and one 
year later unanimously agreed to by the important conference of the 
leading men of Australia in sanitary science, who not only adopted 
Dr. McKellar’s idea as their platform, but after prolonged discussion 
formulated a plan of federal quarantine even to its minutest detail, 
a copy of which was forwarded to the Government of each of the 
Australian provinces, recommending its adoption. 
Dr. McKellar’s proposal, thus fortified by the unanimous approval 
of the sanitary authorities of Australia, was made not alone with a 
view to greater efficiency hut also in the interests of economy. He 
proposed that in addition to the quarantine station, which necessarily 
should protect each of our great maritime cities, there should be 
established at the north-east of the continent at Thursday Island, or 
thereabouts, and also at the south-west — say, at Port Albany two first- 
class quarantine stations fully equipped, and at all times to be ready 
to cope with any plague-ship that would seek to pass either barrier. 
He proposed that these establishments should be erected and main- 
tained at the cost of all the colonies, the cost to each being estimated 
according to its size and population. 
Dr. McKellar argued— and in ibis argument the conference agreed 
that the different Australian provinces contained within the continent 
proper and Tasmania had nothing to fear from infectious or contagious 
disease except from the north ; and all vessels coming from the north 
must touch the continent first at these two ports east or west; and he 
-justly argued that his two federal stations would serve the purpose of 
two impregnable fortresses that no dangerous, contagious, or infectious 
disease could pass if organised on an efficient basis and supported by 
all the colonies. 
Ten years have elapsed since those proceedings of the conference 
took place, and as yet no response has been made by any of the 
Governments applied to. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary of this 
colony recently informed me that the question would probably be 
brought up at the coming meeting of the Federal Council, but such 
is the apparent diffidence of our Governments to touch on ^federal 
matters that I for one have not much confidence in (anything being 
done unless further pressure can be brought to bear upon them. 
