THE MEMORIAL OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF 
THE STATE OF ALABAMA. 
To the Honorable the Senate, and the House of Representatives 
of the Congress of the United States of America: 
The Board of Health of the State of Alabama, having 
duly considered the scope and tendency of the several bills 
now pending in the Congress of the United States “To in- 
crease the efficiency of the National Board of Health,” have 
reached, in reference to the same, the following general con- 
clusions, namely: 
(1.) That it is the duty as well as the privilege of every 
community, as well as of every individual, to take care of 
itself to the full extent of its ability to do so, and, amongst 
other things, to protect itself against the invasion of epidemic 
diseases. 
(2.) That the practical questions involved in the estab- 
lishment and management of quarantines, are of such grave 
importance, and affect so intimately and so profoundly the 
material interests of the State, and of the local communities 
within the State, as to make it neither wise nor prudent for 
us to intrust the administration of quarantine to the hands 
of any other health authorities than those who are of our 
own appointment and directly responsible to our own peo- 
ple. 
(3.) That while the several bills now pending in the 
national congress “To increase the efficienc}' of the National 
Board of Health,” do not interfere with the right of the 
State and local authorities to proclaim and enforce such 
quarantine regulations, in addition to those of the National 
Board, as to them may seem advisable, they are still open to 
objection from the fact that they give to the National Board 
the power to establish and administer quarantines within 
the limits of the States against all commerce and travel of 
which one of the terminal points lies outside of the State, 2 
and this without the consent of the local authorities, and 
even without consultation with them. 
(4.) That it seems to us to be a proposition clearly self- 
evident to all persons of competent judgment in questions 
of this kind, that the State can not afford to allow this large 
grant of power, so nearly affecting the welfare of our people, 
to be placed in the hands of the National Board of Health, 
or of any other agent of the federal government, without 
making earnest efforts to prevent it. 
(5.) That without entering into the discussion of the 
principles and circumstances under which it may become 
advisable for the general government to extend to State and 
municipal authorities pecuniary and other assistance towards 
the establishment and maintenance of quarantines, it still 
seems perfectly clear to us that the proclamation and admin- 
istration of quarantines should, in all cases, be reserved to 
the State and municipal authorities. 
(6.) That it also seems to us to be true, beyond all rea- 
sonable question, that no uniform system of quarantine reg- 
ulations, suitable to all times and places, can possibly be 
devised ; but, per contra, that the quarantine regulations that 
are applicable to one place will often prove entirely unsuited 
to the wants of another place ; and that in different seasons 
even the same place will require widely regula- 
tions. 
(7.) That it is the circumstantial details of quarantines 
that present the practically difficult and important problems 
of quarantine administration ; and that these can not be 
wisely ordered nor wisely managed except by experts, who 
are intimately acquainted with local and surrounding con- 
ditions. 
(8.) That these propositions being admitted, it follows 
that the rule established last jmar by the National Board of 
Health, to the effect that assistance should be extended only 
to such State and municipal boards as had first adopted the 
national rules and regulations, is very gravely objectionable, 
both in principle and practice, and ought not to be con- 
tinued. 
(9.) That the only wise and expedient rule in this regard 
is this, namely: That such State and municipal boards as 
desire the assistance of the National Board, should be 3 
required to submit their own local regulations to the Na- 
tional Board for examination, and that if these are found by 
the National Board to be of reasonable thoroughness and suffi- 
ciency, the needed assistance should then be granted. 
(10.) That the National Board ought, properly, to have 
the general direction and control of quarantines against for- 
eign countries ; but that even these international quarantines 
could be most wisely and efficiently administered through 
the agency of the State and municipal boards having local 
jurisdiction over our seaport cities. 
(10.) That we are in no sense antagonistic to the Na- 
tional Board; but, contrarywise, appreciate very fully that 
it has for the exercise of its legitimate functions a wide and 
important field of usefulness, within which the State and 
municipal boards have no jurisdiction, and this without 
emasculating and weakening the State and municipal boards, 
and without absorbing, directly or indirectly, their most 
important functions. 
(12 ) That holding these opinions, we should very much 
regret to see the power and usefulness of the National Board, 
in its own proper field of action, diminished or destroyed by 
the withholding of the appropriations for which it has made 
application, and which are indubitably necessary for the 
successful continuance of the scientific investigations, sani- 
tary surveys, and other works of sanitary administration and 
research which it has auspiciously begun. 
All of which is respectfully submitted, in the name and 
behalf of the Board of Health of the State of Alabama. 
Done in the City of Montgomery, on the 10th day of May, 
Anno Domini, 1880. 
Jerome Cochran, M. D., 
J. B. Gaston, M. D., 
S. D. Seelye, M. D., 
J. S. Weatherly, M. D., 
M. H. Jordan, M. D., 
Geo. A. Ketchum, M. D,, 
C. D. Parke, M. D., 
P. Bryce, M. D., 
J. J. Dement, M. D., 
Geo. E. Kumpe, M. D., 
Committee of Public Health,