59963_1890-1894

LXXil REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 'OF THE TREASURY.

The commanding officer of the Bear was appointed an agent for tak-ing the census in^ Northwestern Alaska, and for that purpose visited native villages that could not otherwise have been readily reached.

Transportation was given to representatives of the geographical society, and also to the Commissioner of Education for Alaska, and assistance rendered him by the officers and crew in the erection of Government school-houses at Cape Prince of Wales and at Point Hope.

Therevenue steamer Rush cruised from.July 9 to September 11 in the vicinity of the seal islands, for the protection of the interests of the Government on and around those islands and the sea-otter hunting grounds. It also conveyed the United States commissioner with sev-eral prisoners from Western Alaska to Sitka for trial.

The Manhattan is not able to efficiently perform the service required of her at New York, and should be replaced by a larger and more powerful vessel.

The increased work required of the revenue cutters in Alaskan waters demands the inimediate construction of a new vessel for duty on the Pacific coast.

The expenditures on account of the service for the year have been $937,033.67, of which $17,272.81 was spent in enforcing the law regu-lating the anchorage of vessels in the bay and harbor of New York.

The personnel of the service remains the same as last year220 com-missioned officers, 27 pilots, and 815 seamen.

MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE.

This Service is annually growing in importance and in the general scope of its operations. The Surgeon-General reports that during the last year there were 50,671 sailors treated in the various marine hos-pitals and dispensaries; that there were 1,245 pilots examined for color-blindness, of whom 41 were rejected; that there were 1,133 surfmen examined physically for the Life-Saving Service, of whom 72 were rejected for disease or disability; 536 seamen of the Eevenue-Cutter Service were examined, of whom 37 were rejected; 22 light-house keepers were examined, of whom 2 were rejected.

Seven quarantine stations have been maintained during the year and two hygienic laboratories. There were 2,059 vessels inspected at the national quarantines, of which 80 have been detained for fumigation. There were 970 immigrants treated in the barge office, of whom 483 were treated in hospital.

The total receipts of the Service from the tonnage tax, including re-payments, were $574,697.53. There have been expended from this source $566,848.31.

Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1890

COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY. ~ LXXIII

For the prevention of epidemic diseases there have been expended $38,103.28, and for the quarantine service $41,806.54.

The report of the Supervising Surgeon-General, besides an exhibit of the general operations of the Service, contains interesting informa-tion concerning foreign hospitals visited by him while under detail as a delegate to the tenth International Medical Congress. He also sub-mits a special report on Immigration, as the result of his observations abroad, and^ the experience of the Marine-Hospital Service in the examination of immigrants at the port of New York, and recommen-dations are submitted for the more effective exclusion of undesirable immigrants.

No general epidemic from preventable diseases has occurred during the year, although several cases of yellow fever have been detained at the several quarantines. The new quarantine station at San Francisco is now under construction.

A cfrcular for the prevention of the introduction of lepers into the United States was prepared by the Supervising Surgeon-General, and

approved by me December 23, 1889. ' . .

COAST AND GEODETIC .SURVEY.

The report of the Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey supplies many interesting and important details of the field, magnetic, and hydrographic work of the highly accomplished corps under his direction. An officer of the corps formed a part of the scientific com-pany attached to the Eclipse Expedition to the west coast of Africa, and brought home valuable results within his own sphere of in-vestigation. .

Publications of the Survey continue to grow in number and circula-tion, a fact which emphasizes the recommendations heretofore made for increasing the office accommodations of the service.

It would be to the public advantage if statutory provision were made for ascertaining and fixing a proper line of division between the hydro-graphic work of the Survey and that performed under the direction of the Navy Department. Better results might naturally.be expected if each service had the means of knowing the limits of its own field.

Standard weights and measures have been supplied to the recently admitted States of the Union. Much service has been rendered in verifying weights and measures used as standards in various parts of the country. I recommend the conferring of statutory authority upon the Executive to prescribe and regulate the manner of safely keeping the metric standards furnished to the Government, of the United'States.


1890

LXVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY'OF THE TREASURY.

apparatus and fog-signals, and are to be moved to and from their sta-tions by their own steam power.

The Board has two first-class steam tenders well under construction, and the plans of a third are nearly finished.

The number of buoys, spindles, and day marks was. increased from 4,651 to 4,715 during the last fiscal year. The appropriation for ex-penses of buoyage last year was $335,000, an increase of $55,000 over the preceding year. With this the Board was able to maintain these aids to navigation and make a slight addition to their number, but not as many as were needed.

The number of lights on navigable rivers was increased from about 1,600 to about 1,700; as the increase was mostly on eastern rivers, where it costs more to build and maintain them than it does on western rivers, the average cost was brought up from $160 to about $170 per year each. As each of these river lights serves the purpose that was formerly attained by a light-house costing very much more to build and many times more a year to maintain, it is deemed judicious as well as economi-cal to increase their number. The Board asks an increased appropria-tion for this purpose.

The Light-House Board, in its annual report, again urges that the exhibition of private lights should be prohibited, and that ia penalty, be provided by law for the infraction of its regulations as to the light-ing of bridges over navigable streams. ' .


The report of the Supervising Surgeon-General* shows that during the last year there were 52,992 sailors treated in the various marine hospitals and dispensaries; that ther^ were 1,133 surfmen and keepers of the Life-Saving Service examined physically, of which number 59 were rejected for disease or disability; that there were 1,182 pilots ex-amined for color blindness, of which number 29 were rejected; and that 243 seamen were examined physically as a prerequisite to their enlist-ment in the Eevenue-Marine Service, of which number 38 wererejected.

The balance of funds available at the commencement of the fiscal year was $106,295.77, and the receipts from all sources during the year (tonnage tax and repayments for care and treatment of foreign seamen, etc.) were $533,760.77. The expenditures were $564,528.53,' leaving a balance on hand at the close of the fiscal year of $75,528.01. The balance of the appropriation for the prevention of epidemic dis-eases available June 30, 1891, was $157,174.32.

* Omitted from this compilation.


1891

MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE. , LXIX

During the year the eight quarantine stations have been in opera-tion, including the new quarantine station on. Angel Island, San Fran-cisco Bay, which was opened for service in April. There were 1,664 vessels inspected at the national quarantines, of which number 113 were detained for disinfection. At the Gulf Quarantine Station, on Chandeleur Islands, 46 vessels, badly infected with yellow fever, were held and disinfected, and 12 yellow-fever patients were taken from these vessels into the lazaretto. As a result not a single case of yellow fever developed on the coast guarded by this quarantine.

The other stations were also successfully administered, and the South-ern cities have been entirely free from this much-dreaded disease during the past summer.

The Supervising Surgeon-Gen eral calls attention to the increased number of cases of leprosy discovered in the United States, and sug-gests the necessity of a national asylum where these lepers may be per-mitted to enjoy as much freedom as possible, and yet be removed from contact with other people. Pertinent correspondence relating to this matter is embodied in his report. s /

Owing to the prevalence of cholera in the East, and to a want of uniformity in the local health regulations at several of the ports of entry in the United States, a circular has been recently issued pro-hibiting the entry of rags imported from Marseilles unless previously disinfected. It may be necessary to extend the provisions of this cir-cular to other ports where such rags are rebaled and reshipped.

The services of this Bureau of the Government, in aid of the general public health, find further illustration in the copies of correspondence regarding notification to State boards of health of immigrants arriving from infected ports or on infected vessels, and also in the immigration law, in which the duty of inspection of immigrants to be rejected on ac-count of disease is placed upon the officers of this service.

The sanitary inspection service has been rigidly maintained at the port of Havana during the year by the sanitary inspector of the Marine-Hospital Service and his assistant, who examined 636 vessels at that port. Five thousand and twenty-four applicants for certificates to enable the entry of the applicants into the United States during the quarantine season were examined by the sanitary inspector, and certifi-cates were refused to 455 applicants, because through want of acclima-tion (Havana being an infected port) these persons might convey disease into the United States.

.A sanitary inspection has also been maintained on the Mexican fron-tier at El Paso, Tex.


1891

LXX REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

Interesting investigations have been in progress in the two bacterio-logical laboratories of the service, and a special report is made by the medical officer in charge of the chief laboratory, who was detailed for observation and- study in the laboratories of Professors Koch and Pas-teur.

Sanitary reports and statistics have been published weekly through-out the year. ^

The twenty marine hospitals of the United States are reported gen-erally in good condition.

STEAMBOAT-INSPECTION SERVICE.

The personnel of this service, at the end of the fiscal year, consisted of 152 officers, clerks, and messengers. The number of steam-vessels inspected, belonging to the United States, was 7,404, having 1,503,-324.40 net tonnage. The number of foreign steam-vessels inspected was 295.

The number of passengers carried on American steamers, it is esti-mated, was over 500,000,000. The number of lives lost by various accidents was 338.

The expenses of the domestic service were $273,295.29 for the fiscal year, and for the foreign service were $12,953.56.

The services of the officers known as special foreign inspectors have been dispensed with, and the work is all done by the officers of the do-mestic service, under special appointments as acting special inspectors without pay, thereby saving the salaries formerly paid the special in-spectors. It is recommended that the laws providing a separate class of officers for the inspection of foreign steam-vessels be repealed; a better service is obtained by having such inspections made by the officers of the domestic service, as is now done under Departmental authority

Urgent reasons for the proposed legislation are fully set forth in the Secretary's Eeport on the Finances, 1890, as follows:

The offices proposed to be abolished are virtually sinecures, and much sought after in consequence, and until they are abolished the Executive will remain subjected to importunity to fill them.

Legislation is also asked for regulating the pay of inspectors, great inequality now existing in that respect; and to provide punishment for fraudulently changing or interpolating licenses issued to officers oi steam-vessels, and for false swearing by applicants for such officers' licenses.


1891

LXVi REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.


The report of the Supervising Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospi-tal Service shows that during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1892, the total number of cases treated was 53,610, of which number 16,022 were treiated in hospital, the remainder being office or dispensary i3atients.

There were 1,344 pilots examined for color-blindness, of which num-ber 60 were rejected.

Nine hundred and six surfmen and keepers of the Life-Saving Serv-ice were examined, of which number 64 were rejected for physical causes.

Two hundred and thirty-one seamen of the merchant marine were examined, before shipment, as to their physical fitness, and 11 were rejected,

The nineteen marine hospitals of the service are reported as being in good condition, save the one at Port Townsend, and the eight na-tional quarantine stations have been kept in active operation during the;whole of the year, the services which they rendered being of so great importance that it was deemed unwise to close them, even during the winter months. These stations are generally well equipped, ex-cept San Diego and Port Townsend, whose plants are in course of construction. Certain additions are required to a number of the sta-tions to make them adapted to all the wants of modern quarantine science, and estimates for this purpose havebeen included in the Book of Estimates. -

The quarantine service of the Marine Hospital Bureau has been ' marked by great activity during the past summer and fall, owing to the threatened invasion of cholera into the United States. As early as July eighth a circular was issued calling attention tothe prevalenceof the disease in Eussia, and requiring disinfection of all articles from infected places, and laying restraint upon vessels from infected ports.

Eegulations were issued requiring disinfection abroad of all rags prior to their entry into the United States, with a consular certificate to this effect, and the importation of old rags from infected places or localities was prohibited.

Disinfection abroad also of personal effects and baggage of immi-grants was required, and all the above regulations are still in force.

September first a circular was issued, signed by the Supervising Sur-geon-General and approved by the President and myself, imposing a quarantine detention of twenty days upon all vessels bringing immi-grants into the United States. The object of this circular was to lessen the chances of the introduction of cholera by a temporary suspension


1892

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, LXVII

of immigration; ^ the expense of the twenty days' detention being such that it might prove prohibitory in effect, for the time being. As la result, immigration has been j)ractically suspended, and the danger of the introduction of cholera into theUnited States very materially diminished. It is proposed to keep in force this restriction until Con-gress shall have opportunity to express its will in the matter, or until the danger which prompted it shall have disappeared.

The necessity of this circular was found in the large influx of immi-grants from cholera infected districts, and the great danger of the im-

' portation of the disease through their persons or baggage, this being the cause ofthe last cholera epidemic in the United States. The public health, therefore, and a public demand, required a temporary prohi-bition of immigration. There being no special provision for this by any act of Congress, it was determined to make use of the quarantine prerogatives of the several States, all of whose laws permitted of at least twenty days' quarantine detention. The power of the General Gov-ernment to enforce this provision was found in the national quaran-tine act of 1878.

On the announcement of this quarantine restriction a hearty accord was given to the same by the State and local authorities.

To prevent ingress over the Canadian frontier, of immigrants who might seek entry from Canadian seaports, medical inspectors, aided by" customs officers, were appointed to inspect the frontier stations froin Maine to Dakota at all points where railroads cross from Canada into the United States. These inspectors are still kept on duty, and, under instructions, are obliged to see that no baggage of immigrants is ad-mitted into the United States without previous disinfection, and to aid iri the enforcement of local regulations.

Besides this corps of inspectors aid to the State authorities has been rendered at several important maritime points where cholera appeared or was threatened.

On account of the overcrowded quarantine accommodations of the State, at the port of New York, and as a relief for healthy passengers detained upon infected vessels, a camp was established on Sandy Hook, called Camp Low, capable of .accommodating one thousand persons. Through the generosity of a private citizen of New York, Mr. Austin Corbin, the material and necessary help were promptly furnished to the Government for the rapid construction of this camp, obviating the slower process of Government construction. For the details of this camp and its occupancy by immigrants, reference is made to the report of the commanding officer, Surg. J, B. Hamilton (ex-Surgeon-Gen-eral Marine-Hospital Service), which accompanies the annual report of Su];)ervising Surgeon-General Wyman. The value of Dr. Hamilton's services is hereby acknowledged.


1892

LXVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

The thanks of the Treasury Department is extended to the War: Department for consenting tothe location of Camp Low on its reserva-tion, to the Navy Department for furnishing the guards and boats:, for land and sea patrol, and to the Chamber of Commerce of New York: for its support of the measure taken.

Additions will be made to this camp during the winter with a view/ to its utilization should-cholera again appear in the spring pr summer..

Sandy Hook belongs to the Government and is in charge of the War Department, and is only populated with Government employes. Owing. to its peculiar conformation it can be completely isolated from the; mainland. Camp Low is so located as to also be easily isolated froini the stations of the Light-house and Life-saving stations and the quarters; occupied by the War Department. Safe, deep, and commodious an-chorage exists at Camp Low. Sandy Hook is in all respects admirably suited for the purppse of a sanitary camp, and if such portion of it as; can be spared without detriment to the other department of tlse Oav-ernment service could be added to the present accommodation;^ of th, quarantine of the State of New York, it would afford ah equipment that would furnish ample facilities to deal with the danger at that point of the introductionof contagious diseases that is constantly threatening the country,

A quarantine camp was also established at the Delaware Breakwater station, where permanent barracks for the accommodation of 800 immi-grants have been erected and tents provided for the protection of addi-tional numbers, A rigid quarantine has been and is still maintained at this point, and also at the national station near Cape Charles at the; mouth of the Chesapeake.

A detention camp was also established at Fort Pulaski, Ga., for the^ protection of the city of Savannah and the surrounding territory. At:^ the more southern national quarantines on the Atlantic coast as well! as at thoS'e on the Gulf and North Pacific coasts the usual activity audi vigilance have been maintained.

At smaller seaports, where local quarantine provision is insufficient,. and where cholera infected vessels might seek entrance to avoid the greater restrictions at larger ports, the authorities have been invited by circular to apply for such aid from the Marine Hospital Bureau as may be required for their defense.

Sanitary information, including an account of the progress of the cholera has been regularly transmitted to all quarantine and loca health officers, through the publication of the Weekly Abstract of San-itary Eeports, under section 2, act of 1878; and for the purpose of securing accurate information from abroad^ officers.have been detailed


1892

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. LXIX

for gathering, in foreign seaports, such data regarding the recent epi-demic of cholera and its threatened reappearance, as will be valuable (to the sanitary authorities of the United States.

iState laws can not proi3erly control or direct the management of great quarantines where other States are interested. The quarantines of our seaboard are of equal interest to all our population. The whole country should have a voice in their ownership and management, and this can only be accomplished by such legislative action as will forbid the collection of quarantine fees by State or municipal authority, and which shall direct the assumption of all quarantine duties by the United States. This duty rests under the same authority as that under which laws relating to immigration are framed and executed.

Every serious epidemic that this country has ever known has been traced to the immigrant, and it must be apparent that the same author-ity that.controls immigration should control quarantine. . Admitting that any particular local quarantine may be perfectly

.managed, of what avail is it if a neighboring port has either a lax and insufficient quarantine, or none at all? Such are the facilities for in-

lland communication that all quarantines must be equally efficient to be 'successful in preventing implantation of disease, and only the strong arm of the Government, directed under laws enacted by representa-itives of the whole people, can give confidence and securityo

STEAMBOAT-INSPECTION SERVICE. -

The Supervising Inspector-General reports the inspections, during the_fiscal year, of 7,661 domestic steam vessels, having a net tonnage o^f 1,546,325.29. Officers licensed, 36,520. Increase, 1,404. Thenum-

ber of foreign passenger steamers inspected was 293, with a net tonnage ^f 559,020.97. The number of passengers carried during the year, (partly estimated) was 650,000,000. The number of lives lost was 200, being 138\less than in 1891. Of the lives lost, 48 were passengers and 152 were officers and sailors belonging to the vessels. The expenses of Ithe,Service have been, for salaries, $244,300.43; contingent expenses, f 44,836.13; making a total of $289,136,56.

Especial attention is invited to the gratifying results of the present law, as compared with the law of August 30, 1852.

During the nineteen years of the operation of the law of 1852 there i^ere 1,504 disasters to steam vessels, with a loss of 9,320 lives, or an average loss of 490 lives per annum. Under the present law, notwith-rStanding the increase in the nwnber of steam Vessels since 1870 of over IOO per cent^ there have been but 729 disasters to steam vessels, with a


1892

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. XLVII o

Bythe terms of a joint resolution of Congress approved August 5, 1892, the laws prohibiting the coming of Chinese persons into the United States were practically suspended so far as to permit exhibitors at the World's Columbian Exposition and their employes to enter the United States without other requirement than evidence that they were bona fide exhibitors or employes whose services were required by exhibitors at the Exposition. Under this authority nearly 500 Chinese persons, rep-resented to be actors and employes of firms holding concessions from the World's Columbian Exposition, were admitted at San Francisco. 'No provision was made in the law for the return of these persons, who are entitled to remain one year after the close of the Exposition. From inquiries made by officers of this Department it appears that a major-ity of the Chinese persons so admitted have not attended as exhib-itors or employes at the World's Fair, and those who did so attend have been discharged by the exhibiting company which brought them here, and the present whereabouts of all of them are unknown. Many if not all of the Chinese so admitted will remain in the United States, and it will be very difficult and probably impossible to identify them as persons unlawfully within the country.

The act approved September 1, 1893, relating to the California Mid-winter International Exposition, specifically extends to that Exposition the provisions of the resolution above referredto relating to Chinese, and it follows, therefore, that there is great danger of "the introduction of numbers of Chinese laborers under the guise of actors, exhibitors, etc. I t is therefore suggested that supplementary legislation is required under which the Secretary of the Treasury may exact bonds from the persons holding concessions providing for the return of Chinese admitted as participants in the Exposition.

THE MARINE-HOSPITAL SERVICE.

The report of the Supervising Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospital Service shows that during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893, the total number of cases treated was 53,317, of which number 14,857 were treated in hospital, the remainder being office or dispensary patients. There were 1,353 pilots examined for color blindness, of which number 48 were rejected. One thousand and ninety-five surfmen and keepers of the Life Saving Service were exainined, of which number 41 were re-jected for physical causes. Two hundred and seventy-nine seamen of the merchant marine were examined before shipment as to their physical fitness, and 22 were rejected.

The balance of funds available at the commencement of the fiscal year was $139,199,34, and the receipts from all sources during the year (ton-nage tax and repayments for care and treatment of foreign seamen), were $554,200.86. The expenditures were $586,238.02, leaving a,bal-ance on hand at the close ofthe fiscal year of $107,162.18. The balance of the appropriation for the prevention of .e|JiderriiQ di^^ases^ availaWe JttB^ 30; 1893, was $9255 965,45,


1893

XLVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

The Surgeon General reports that the marine hospital at Port Town-send was destroyed by fire September 9, 1893, without the loss of life. The building was of little value, and will be replaced by a new one, for which appropriation was made by the last Congress, and for which plans have been prepared. The other eighteen hospitals of the service are reported as being in good condition.

Following the threatened inroad of cholera into the United States during the summer and fall of 1892, and in view of the certain revival' with increased severity of cholera in Europe in the following spring and summer. Congress enacted the law entitled ^ A n act granting additional quarantine powers, and imposing additional duties, upon the Marine-Hospital Service," approved February 15,1893. In accordance with the terms of this act quarantine rules and regulations were made and promul-gated both with regard to foreign and domestic ports, and for the pur-pose of enforcing the Treasury Eegulations abroad, medical officers ofthe Marine-Hospital Service were detailed to se'rve in the ports of London, ^ Liverpool, Southampton, Glasgow, Hamburg, Bremen, Antwerp, Havre, Marseilles, Genoa, and ISTaples. Great care was exercised in enforcing these regulations to interfere as little as possible with commerce, and a distinct benefit to commerce was demonstrated by the decrease in the number of days of detention imposed on vessels on arrival at American ports. As anticipated, cholera became widespread throughout Europe during the summer and fall just past, the disease appearing at nearly all the continental ports where officers were stationed, assuming in sev-eral, namely, Naples, Leghorn, and Antwerp, the proportions of an epidemic, besides prevailingv in epidemic form in the interior of Eussia, Austria, Italy, and France.

, It is belieyed that never before was this disease prevalent at one time in so many different localities throughout Europe, and the danger of its conveyance to the United States was much greater than if it had been limited to a few ports, even though it had raged in the latter in more violently epidemic form. To the care exercised by the medical officers attached to the various consulates and by the consular service abroad may be properly ascribed the almost total exclusion of cholera from the shores of the United States.

The rules for the government of domestic quarantine include a "gen-eral supervision of the local quarantines by the Marine-Hospital Service, and in conformity therewith iiispections have been made from time to time of the various State and local quarantines, and at one port, namely, Brunswick, Ga., where it was found that the regulations made by ttie Treasury Department were not being fully complied with in accord-ance with the act of Congress, an officer of the Marine-Hospital Service was detailed by the President to assume charge of the quaran-tine. At the quarantine for the port of New York an inspector of the Marine-Hospital Service has been detailed to observe the enforcement of the regulations bf the Treasury Departinent, his services also being


1893

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. XLIX

valua-ble in observing, through exaniination of the bills of health, and other ship's papers, the character of the work performed by the medi-cal officers detailed in foreign ports.

The quarantine service of the Marine-Hospital Bureau during the past season has included the preparation and enforcement of the regulations to be observed at foreign ports, the regulations to be ob-served by ships at sea, the regulations to be observed by State and local quarantines of the United States, and the conduct of the nine national quarantine stations, extending from Sandy Hook, on the Atlantic coast, to Port Townsend, Wash., on the Pacific. These stations within the past year have been perfected and placed in a condition' of great efficiency. At Camp Low, Sandy Hook, N. J., the station has been fitted up with complete steam disinfecting apparatus, bathhouses, and all necessary appliances for the proper care of a thousand immigrants held under suspicion. The station at Delaware Breakwater, at the mouth of the Delaware Bay, has been placed in like condition, and at the junction of the Delaware Bay and Eiver a pier has been erected, to which the largest vessels may be moored for disinfection, which can not be done at the Breakwater on account of its exposed situation. On this pier, at Eeedy Island, have been placed' the most modern steam, disinfecting chambers, sulphur blast furnace, tanks for disinfect-ing solutions, composing a complete plant for the rapid and thorough disinfectioh of an infected vessel. With this plant at Eeedy Island and the accommodation for immigrants near the Delaware Breakwater, an ^ efficient quarantine guard has been established for the. city of Phila-delphia and the other cities on the Delaware Eiver and Bay. The remaining quarantines are at the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay; at Blackbeard Island, off the coast of Georgia; at the Dry Tortugas, off the coast of Florida; Chandeleur Islands, in the Gulf of Mexico; San DiegO', Cal.; Angel Island, San Francisco, Cal.; and Port Townsend, Wash. The quarantine station at Brunswick, Ga., formerly a local quarantine, will require a new location. The quarantine station at Chandeleur Islands, in the Gulf of Mexico, was destroyed by storm Octo-ber 3, 1893. This station from its inception has* been of invaluable aid to commerce and to the cities on the Gulf coast. Its reestablish-ment at sonie new site is earnestly recommended.

To protect the United States from the invasion of cholera through Canada, the .Canadian quarantine authorities, through the solicitation of the Surgeon-General of the MarinerHospital Service, agreed, with the acquiescence of their government, to disinfect the baggage of all immi-grants at Quebec, and to permit the presence of two medical officers of the Marine-Hospital Serviee to certify to such disinfection for the benefit of the State and local quarantine officers, in the several States to which the immigrants might pass from Canada, This disinfection has been faithfully carried on during the whole season, and has added no little to the security of the United States.

jFi 03- IV .


1893

L REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

On June 27 it was reported there had been a case of yellow fever at Conquest's Camp on the Satilla Eiver. An offi cer of the Marine-Hospital Service was immediately sent to this point, and took the most thorough and successful measures for preventing any further outbreak of the fever. Tt was ascertained that this patient had, previous to going to Conquest's Camp, taken his vessel, the Anita Berwind, to Brunswick, and an inves-tigation showed that the quarantine regulations of the Department were only in part being enforced at the Brunswick qualantine. Accordingly, as before stated, the Government assumed charge of this quaiantine and assigned a medical officer in charge. This officer himself contracted the yellow fever, as now believed, in Brunswick, for during his short period of service at the quarantine station he insi3ected no infected vessel and was exposed to no case of yellow fever. Moreover, investigation has proved that the city was probably infected before his detail. Other cases developed at points unconnected with the first case or with each other. Thorough disinfection, not only of the rooms ard houses where the first cases appeared, but of suspected areas, was carried on, but with-out avail, ahd subsequent events have shown that the city was infected in a number of independent places. Sanitary cordons were established by the Marine-Hospital Service, and a detention camp provided for the benefit of those desiring to leave the infected territory. There was no development of the disease outside of the sanitary cordons. During the period of the epidemic in Brunswick, to November 23, 1893, at which date i twas practically extinct, there were 1,001 cases and 53 deaths. Eules, to be observed for preventing the spread ofthe disease from one section of the country to another, have been promulgated by this Depart-ment.

On August 29 a case of cholera was reported in Jersey City, and immediately the Government assumed a supervisory charge over the preventive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. The origin of this case has not been officially determined, but there were no subse-quent cases.

Belief for the sea islands of South Carolina, -After the violent storm of August 27, the attention of the Depart-

inent was called to the unsanitary condition of the sea islands off the coast of South Carolina, by reason bf the unburied bodies of men and animals, the pollution of the wells and obstruction of the drains caused by this storm, and a direct appeal was made for assistance. On approval of the President a limited amount was set aside from the epi-demic fund for carrying out measures necessary to prevent the out-break and spread of epidemic disease, and an officer ofthe Marine-Hos-pital Service was detailed to visit ^the -stricken islands, superintend the clearing of the wells, the burying of dead animals, and treatment of the sick. This work, purely of a sanitary nature, is to be supplemented by the efforts of the Eed Cross Society in relieving the physical necessi-ties of the people.


1893

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. LI

In addition to the foregoing, the Marine-Hospital Seryice, in accord-ance with the.law, has published each week an Abstract of Sanitary Eeports,' both from its medical officers abroad and from the United States consuls, and also information concerning the health of the various parts of the United .States; these abstracts being sent principally to the leading sanitarians and health officers of the United States and others interested in this subject,

REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE.

The'performance of the regula?r duties of this service has continued in a faithful and efficient manner. Thirty-four vessels have been in commission, carrying a complement of 222 officers and 762 men.

The following is a statistical statement of the duties performed : Aggregate number of miles cruised by vessels of the service 305, 807 Number, of merchant vessels boarded aud examined 30, 502 Number of merchant vessels found violating the law in some x^articular

and seized or reported to proper authorities... ;... 675 Fines or penalties of vessels so seized or reported.... |160, 814.10 Number of vessels iri distress assisted.. 119 Valae of vessels and their cargoes imperiled bythe sea thus as.sisted.... | 2 , 838, 250 Number of persons on board vessels assisted '. 945 Number of persons taken out of the water and saved from drowning 29

The expense of conducting the service has been $920,342.89, of which sum $21,941.81 were used in enforcing the provisions of the act of Con-gress approved May 16, 1888, regulating the anchorage of vessels in the bay and harbor of New York.

One new vessel of the third-class (steamer Hudson) has been completed during the year, placed in commission, and assigned to duty at the port of New York, and one vessel ofthe third class, the Tench Coxe, hasbeen exaniined and found not worth repairing, and is recommended to be sold.

New, vessels,

A number of new vessels are urgently needed for the proper main-tenance of this service, viz : One cruising cutter of the first class on the New England coast, two on the Great Lakes, two on the Pacific coast, and a small steam vessel for boarding purposes at San Francisco; and the necessity for these new vessels is- annually increasing. Many of the vessels are old and nearly worn out, the expense of keeping them in repair increases with their age, and the duties required of them con-stantly increasing, can not be as efficiently performed as with abler vessels; , ,

The command of the fleet, composed of four vessels of the Navy, viz, Mohican^ Fetrel, Banger, and Albatross, and revenue steamers Bush, Corwin, and Bear, designated by the President for patroling the Bering . Sea and waters of Alaska Territory for the protection of the Seal Islands and the enforcement of the provisions of the modus vivendi with Great


1893

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. .XLVII

Various measures of economy have also been successfully instituted at several i3orts, resulting in a substantial saving to the immigrant fund, and added benefit to the service.

The attention of Congress is again invited to the recommendation of the Superintendent of Immigration, in .which I concur, that it will at

^ an early date carefully revise and reenact the Alien Contract Labor Laws, making them more certain, explicit, and comprehensive, and giving effective remedies to insure their enforcement.


The Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hosi3ital Service reports that the nineteen marine hospitals owned and operated by the Service are in ex-cellent condition, in consequence of careful attention to work of repair during the year, and that at these hospitals and the other 136 relief sta-tions there were treated during the fiscal year 52,803 i3atients; 13,725 were treated in hospitals, and the remainder, 39,078, were dispensary or out patients. Ninety-four seamen of the merchant marine were exam-ined before shipment as to their j)h3^sical fitness and 5 were rejected. '

The sum total of the Marine-Hospital fund available during the fiscal year was $658,072.16, and the expenditures from this fund were $586,741.75, leaving a^ balance June 30 of $71,330.41. Th6 balance of the appropriation for the iDrevention of epidemic ^diseases available June 30, 1894, was $601,773.79. /

During the year one board of examiners was convened to examine candidates for admission into the regular corps of the Service. Twenty-seven applicants appeared, of which number four only were successful. These four have all been appointed assistant surgeons. Not withstand-ing the great increase of work thrown upon the. Marine-Hospital Service by reason of the passage of the Quarantine Act of February 15, 1893, since that act there have been but three additions to the number of medical officers in the regular corps.

During the year, in aid of the inspection service of steam vessels, 628 pilots were examined by the officers of this Service for color-blindness, of which number 26 were rejected.

In. aid of the Life-Saving Service 1,076 surfmen and keei^ers were examined as to their physical fitness, of which number 22 were rejected. One hundred and seventy claims of keepers and surfmen for the bene-fits under section 7 of the act of May 4^ 1882, were referred to the Bureau for examination of the medical evidence submitted and opinion as to the probable cause and effect of the diseases and injuries on which the claims were based. By act of Congress approved August 4, 1894, the benefits of the marine hospitals have been extended to the keepers and crews of the Life-Saving Service, and regulations carrying the law into effect have been duly issued by this Department.

In aid of the Eevenue Cutter Service, two boards of medical officers


1894

XLVIII REPORT OF THE SECRETAliY OF THE TRFIASURY.

have been convened to pass upon the physical qualifications of candi-dates for promotion and of candidates for appointment as cadets in said Service. Two hundred and twenty seamen were examined physically prior to enlistment to determine their physical fitness for the Eevenue Cutter Service, of which number 21 were rejected. .

In aid of the Immigration Service medical officers of the Marine-Hospital Service have been stationed at Boston, New York, Philadel-phia, and Baltimore. At the other ports where immigrants occasionally arrive the service of the officers on duty in the marine hospitals ^re available when required. The number of immigrants inspected by the marine hospital officers during the fiscal year 1894, as reported to the Bureau, was 296,614, of which number 244 were rejected under the law.

In the laboratory of the Service examinations have been made of the dejecta of immigrants arriving on steamships, and in two cases diagnoses of true cholera were confirmed. Pathological examinations have also been made to determine the diagnosis of yellow fever. Bacteriological analyses have been made of samples of the water from suspected quarters at the request of various health officers of the United States. Water from a number of the wells in the District of Columbia have been examined, and 90 per cent of the wells examined found to be contam-inated with sewage. A systematic course of instruction in bacteriology has; been conducted for the benefit of the officers of the Service and others. Investigations concerning the etiology and pathology of the eruptive fevers, and in preventive inoculation against acute infectious diseases have been and are now being conducted. A bacteriologist" of the Service is now in Europe familiarizing himself with the latest advances in preventive inoculation. A supply of toxine has been for-warded to the Bureau, and animal immunization is now in progress with a view of obtaining the antitoxine serum for the prevention and cure of diphtheria.

Ifational quarantine service.

The medical officers of the Marine-Hospital Service detailed by the President to serve during the cholera epidemic of 1893 at London, Liverpool, Southampton, Glasgow, Bremen, Hamburg, Eotterdam, Ant-werp, Havre, Marseilles, Genoa, and Naples were recalled December 1, 1893. One experienced surgeon, however, was kept in foreign coun-tries in order to give reliable information as to the prevalence and spread of cholera. This officer during the past season visited the cities most available for obtaining the desired information, investigated rumors and reports of cholera, visited the most important consulates to observe the method of enforcing the Treasury regulations, and made weekly reports to the Surgeon-General, supplementing the same frequently by cable dispatches. In this manner accurate information was constantly avail-able in the United States relative to the threatening epidemic.

The foreign quarantine regulations, including those relating to the


1894

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE^ TREASURY. XLIX

detention of suspected immigrants coming from infected districts, and the disinfection of their baggage, were enforced by the consular officers.

During the year the quarantine regulations made iii accordance with the act of February 15, 1893, were revised. Some of the restraints placed in foreign ports ux3on articles of merchandise having been found as a result of increased kiiowledge and practical experience to be unnec-essary, were removed or modified. As a result, during the past year there has been no interference, practically, with commerce so far as merchandise is concerned ; at the same time the public health has be'en efficiently guarded.

The two principal diseases against which precautions were necessary during the past year were cholera and yellow fever, the former being feared by reason of its continuance throughout Euroi3e, although it was not epidemic at any of the great seaports with which the United States has intimate commercial relations. There was some apprehension of a recurrence of yellow fever in the South as a result of the epidemic- in Brunswick in the year previous, which came to a close November 30, 1893. On account, however, of the post-epidemic disinfection carried on in the city of Brunswick and in the town of. Jesup by the officers of the Marine-Hospital Service, there was no reappearance of the disease.

In order, however, that the Bureau might be promptly informed if the disease should reappear, and upon invitation of the board of health of Brunswick, after overtures were made by the Bureau to this end, an experienced surgeon was stationed in the city of Brunswick in order to determine upon any doubtful cases, and to give timely warning. At the same time, under, the act of Congress of February 15, 1893, and the Treasury regulations promulgated in accordance therewith, to the effect that the Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospital Service should from time to time personally, or through a detailed officer inspect all quaran-tines, the seaboard; of the United States, from Maine to the State of Washington, was divided into districts, and each district allotted to an experienced surgeon of the Service who made periodical inspections of the quarantine systems at every port of entry within his district, mak-ing his report upon a prescribed form which embraced every desired detail.

Particular attention was paid to the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, which are especially threatened with the invasion of j^ellow fever each summer. From Wilmington, N. C., to Brownsville, Tex., during what is known as the j^ellow fever season, the coast was under almost constant patrol by an officer of the Service inspecting local quarantines and reporting upon such deficiencies as were found to exist. The attention of the several State boards of health or local quarantine boards was called to these deficiencies, and they were generally made good, but in some instances where through want of proper organization no action by local authorities could be taken, appropriate action was taken by the Bureau. These inspections were well received by the State and local

F I 94 IV "^


1894

L . REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.^

authorities, all of which.manifested a desire to cooperate with the Bureau in its efforts to jprevent the introduction and spread of disease. There can be no doubt that the presence of these inspectors, who were Men of-large exjperience in quarantine measures, had a salutary influence ; and owing largely to the prudent conduct of- the medical officers, in no instance was their presence resented.

The records of the various quarantine stations show that a large num-ber of infected vessels received treatment and an unusual number of yellow-fever patients were taken therefrom. At the Key West quaran-tine station. Dry Tortugas, eleven cases of yellow fever were taken from vessels bound for the United States. The necessity of the quarantine service, particularly in the South, is amply demonstrated' by the sea--son^s record, and the necessity will continue until all the Southern sea-board cities have been i)laced in such sanitary condition as willprevent the spread of this imx^orted disease.

The Surgeon-General reports that the twelve quarantine stations of the United States are in good condition and are thoroughly equipped, with the' exception of Port Townsend and San Diego, whose equip-ment will be shortly completed. During the year the quarantine sta-tion at Eeedy Island has been completed, and. this, together with the sta^tion at the Delaware Breakwater, is amply sufficient for the protec-tion of all cities and towns upon the Delaware Bay and Eiver. The Station on Fishermans Island has also been completed, and the vessel Jamestowuj turned over to the Bureau by the Navy Department, has been supplied with a fumigating furnace and steam disinfecting cham-ber, and is a complete quarantine station in itself

Following the destruction of the Chandeleur quarantine by storm October 1, 1893, the station was temporarily removed to Ship Island, and Congress in the appropriation act, approved August 18, 1894, has api3roved its rehabilitation at this point. Until this act of Congress was passed it was necessary to order that infected vessels bound for the port of Mobile should be cared for by the municipal quarantine, against which a vigorous protest was made. As soon as the act was passed this order was revoked and permission given to send all infected vessels to Ship Island. '

Interstate Quaramtine, In accordance with the law of February 15, 1893, regulations have

been i3romulgated by the Department for the x^urpose of loreventing the introduction of contagious diseases into one State or Territory, or the District of Columbia, from another State or Territory or the District of Columbia. These regulations, prepared in "the Marine-Hospital BureaU;,, relate at present only to specific diseases, viz: cholera, yellow fever, smallpox, typhus fever, leprosy, and plague. It has not .been deemed advisable to add other diseases to this list at the present time;. but the regulations are comprehensive in their character, permitting minor details to be supplied by local health authorities if desired.


1894

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY^ LI

The attention of Congresses invited to the necessity of making some provision for carrying into effect section 8 of the act of February 15, 1893, which is as follows :. .

^^SEC. 8. That whenever the proper authorities of a State shall sur-render to the United States the use of the buildings and disinfecting apiDaratus at a State quarantine station, the Secretary of the Treasury shall be authorized to receive them, and to pay a reasonable compensa-tion to the State for their use, if in his opinion they are necessary to the United States.'^

Since the i^assage of this act two States, Pennsylvania and North Car-olina, have practically surrendered their quarantine functions, and an imi^ortant seaport of another State, Brunswick, Ga., has, under author-ity conferred by law, been deprived of its quarantine functions because of inefficiency.

The maintenance of these quarantine stations has been -orovided for in the appropriations for the present fiscal year, but other States and other local authorities are eontemx^lating the surrender of their quaran-tine functions, and it is desirable that a definite policy regarding the stations so surrendered should be adopted and i^rovision made for their equi]3ment and maintenance through a general fund to be established for that puri30se by fees collected from vessels or otherwise, as may Ue' determined by Congress, from which fund all the quarantine expenses of the United States shall be i3aid.

REVENUE CUTTER SERVICE.

During the past fiscal year thirty-five vessels have been in commission which have been constantly engaged in jpatrolling the coasts, rivers, and harbors of the United States, for the protection of the revenue and the enforcement of law relative to other subjects.

The following is a statistical statement of duties performed: Aggregate number of miles cruised by vessels of the Service 308, 682 Number of merchant vessels boarded and examined. 29, 727 Number of merchant vessels found violating the law in some particular

and seized or reported to proper authorities. 482 Fines or penalties of vessels so seized or reported |98, 335. 70 Number of vessels in distress assisted ' 70 Value of vessels and their cargoes imperiled by the sea, thus assisted ^ 1 , 709,105. 00 Number of persons on board vessels assisted ^ . 658 Miles cruised in the performance of duties connected with Life-Saving

Service 7, 615'

During the year, 87 lives were saved. Of this number 78 were actu-ally taken out of the water and saved from drowning, and 9 were of the shipwrecked crew of the American whaling h^bA James Allen, rescued by the steamer Bear,


1894

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Documents

quarantine service

marinehospital service

eevenuecutter service

new vessel

northwestern alaska

special report

harbor of new york

lxxil report