Page:Senate Reports 1892–’93.djvu/791

{| Senator. In what manner is Dr. Burgess connected with this consulate?
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Mr. . The duties of consular officers of the United States with respect to the performance of quarantine inspections and the issuance of bills of health at foreign ports to vessels bound to the United States are defined by paragraphs 333, 334, 335, 336, and 337 of the consular regulations. Under paragraph 336 at those ports that may be designated by the Department of State a physician will be employed or detailed to inspect such vessels, their passengers, crews, cargoes, and ballast, and in accordance therewith Dr. D. M. Burgess has been appointed for the performance of the services of this nature that devolve upon this consulate-general. On the filling out and receipt of his reports of inspection this consulate-general then issues bills of health in accordance with the said paragraph 336 of the consular regulations of the United States.



STATEMENT OF DR. DANIEL M. BURGESS.

Senator. How long have you been here at Havana?

Dr. . I have been here twenty-five years.

Senator. How long connected with the consulate?

Dr. . Most of the time. I am United States sanitary inspector of the Marine-Hospital Service.

Senator. Under the Treasury Department?

Dr. . Yes, sir. Before that I was sanitary inspector for the National Board of Health.

Senator. I would ask the doctor if he has not been connected with the hospital system of Cuba, of this city particularly?

Dr. . Yes, sir.

Senator. Hospitals belonging to the government here?

Dr. . Not belonging to the government here; not connected with any government hospital, but with a private hospital.

Senator. You have heard the resolutions read describing the object of our investigation.

Dr. . I did not hear them read.

Senator. The purpose of our inquiry is to gain information in regard to the danger of importing infectious or epidemic diseases through immigration from the West Indies into Florida and other States, among other things. Will you please give us anything you have in mind with regard to the history of epidemic or infectious diseases being carried from this port to the United States in the past? Do you know that cholera or yellow fever have been so carried and when?

Dr. . We have good evidence of yellow fever having been carried from here to the States repeatedly, to different ports of the United States, to Savannah as late as 1876, to New Orleans, to Charleston, and especially of vessels arriving at New York with yellow fever on board; that has occurred often, and in fact at almost every seaport; at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah, Pensacola, New Orleans, and, I think, Mobile. As to the dates of such I shall have to refresh my memory.

Senator. If you can furnish us with any dates of statistics with regard to that we would be glad to have you submit a paper at any time, while we are here, or if necessary we could give you a longer time. Can you give us any idea as to whether this has been the principal source of yellow fever transmitted to the States?

