Okla-homey
7/19/2010, 06:47 AM
July 19, 1884: President Arthur proclaims power to impose quarantine on immigrants
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/NIN_Crow_Floyd/MUTTONCHOPS.jpg
Chester Arthur
126 years ago on this day in 1884, President Chester Arthur issues a proclamation that grants him and the federal government the power to quarantine persons entering the United States through its ports of entry to avoid the spread of "pestilence."
Although the proclamation used the word "pestilence" several times, it did not mention the specific name of the dreaded disease from which Arthur was trying to protect the nation: tuberculosis.
Although individual states usually maintained their own quarantine laws, Arthur saw the need to broaden the federal government's powers to intervene in a national health crisis.
Arthur served as president during an economic depression, when the nation was already in a state of anxiety and fearful of a resurgence in immigration from Europe and Asia, where tuberculosis was epidemic.
The President advised cities along the coasts to "resist the power of the disease and to mitigate its severity." Without elaborating, Arthur was authorizing people to report to the federal government persons suspected of carrying highly contagious diseases.
Since the country's inception, several presidents have had to impose quarantine regulations. George Washington signed the first quarantine act in 1799 at a time when variations of the plague and smallpox still posed deadly threats. Foreign ships deemed in "insanitary [sic] conditions" could be seized by federal officers and the passengers placed in quarantine at hospitals.
Nowadays, the government doesn't impose involuntary quarantine of anyone suffering or infected with any disease. Not sure why exactly, other than the fact its not politically correct to do so. Or perhaps that quarantine is not particularly effective in limiting the spread of a disease. Perhaps one of you readers know. If so, enlighten us.
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f380/NIN_Crow_Floyd/MUTTONCHOPS.jpg
Chester Arthur
126 years ago on this day in 1884, President Chester Arthur issues a proclamation that grants him and the federal government the power to quarantine persons entering the United States through its ports of entry to avoid the spread of "pestilence."
Although the proclamation used the word "pestilence" several times, it did not mention the specific name of the dreaded disease from which Arthur was trying to protect the nation: tuberculosis.
Although individual states usually maintained their own quarantine laws, Arthur saw the need to broaden the federal government's powers to intervene in a national health crisis.
Arthur served as president during an economic depression, when the nation was already in a state of anxiety and fearful of a resurgence in immigration from Europe and Asia, where tuberculosis was epidemic.
The President advised cities along the coasts to "resist the power of the disease and to mitigate its severity." Without elaborating, Arthur was authorizing people to report to the federal government persons suspected of carrying highly contagious diseases.
Since the country's inception, several presidents have had to impose quarantine regulations. George Washington signed the first quarantine act in 1799 at a time when variations of the plague and smallpox still posed deadly threats. Foreign ships deemed in "insanitary [sic] conditions" could be seized by federal officers and the passengers placed in quarantine at hospitals.
Nowadays, the government doesn't impose involuntary quarantine of anyone suffering or infected with any disease. Not sure why exactly, other than the fact its not politically correct to do so. Or perhaps that quarantine is not particularly effective in limiting the spread of a disease. Perhaps one of you readers know. If so, enlighten us.