222 
Editorials. 
(  Am.  Jour  Pharm. 
1       April,  1885. 
cholera,  and  the  constant  danger  from  other  communicable  diseases  occur- 
ring at  foreign  ports  having  commercial  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  exists,  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  practica- 
ble, of  the  existence  or  appearance  of  any  of  the  above-named  diseases  to 
some  constituted  authority  in  this  country  ;  to  give  notice  of  the  departure 
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  iuspect  thoroughly  such  vessel  in  all  her  parts, 
and  also  her  cargo,  her  crew  and  passengers,  to  use  such  cleansing  and  dis- 
infection as  he  may  deem  necessary,  and  to  satisfy  himself  that  all  jDcrsons 
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  pre- 
cautionary measures  taken.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  central  autho- 
rity in  this  country  promptly  to  transmit  intelligence  of  the  existence  of 
the  above-mentioned  diseases  at  foreign  ports  and  places,  and  of  the  depart- 
ure 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 
consular  agents  of  this  country,  or  no  telegraphic  communication  with  this 
country,  and  which  are  liable  to  transmit  pestilence  through  commercial 
intercourse,  that  one  or  more  medical  officers  be  chosen  to  visit  such  ports 
as  often  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  by  the  central  health  authority  in  this 
country,  so  as  to  give  trustworthy  information  of  the  health  and  sanitary 
condition  or"  tliose  places. 
Canadian  Health  ^^^/(7»ce.— Iiuismuch  as  the  Dominion  of  Canada  is 
e(iually  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  concerted  action  with  the 
Dominion  and  the  British  government,  by  which  the  consuls  of  this  coun- 
try or  of  England  at  foreign  ports  shall  exatnine  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  eflfective  measures  against  the  importation  of  these  diseases. 
We  are  gratified  that  the  authorities  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  adop- 
tion 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  or  places,  should  be  carried 
out  in  a  manner  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  immigiants  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  Con- 
gress, meets  with  our  cordial  approval.  To  enable  these  protective  measures 
to  be  carried  out,  we  recommend  that  C'ongress  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 
