Page:Senate Reports 1892–’93.djvu/793

{| of the length of time the applicant has passed in the tropics, and where, and as to his having had yellow fever.
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If he claims to have had the disease in question, the legalized certificate of the physician who attended him most be produced, or in case he had it in a hospital the certificate of the director of the hospital. In addition, the person is questioned closely and cross-questioned in regard to the symptoms he had when taken sick and throughout his illness; how he felt and suffered; in what town he lived at the time, and who attended him; how he was nursed, and other questions, which the investigation suggests, are put.

Second class; as to Spaniards.—They must produce the documents which identify them: such as cedulas, passports, etc.

The certificate of the inspector of vessels stating the time when they arrived on the island.

Another certificate, from the alcalde of the ward in which they live, saying how long they have lived there, and in case of removal that of other alcaldes, etc. Also certificate of some respectable mercantile or banking house stating how long they have lived in Cuba, or other provinces, and in what places. If the applicant claims to have had yellow fever, the certificate of the physician who attended him, or that of the hospital in which he may have passed through it, must be produced, with the proper seal attached.

He is questioned, as in the case of class first, what symptoms he had, etc., when he was sick from it, and in some cases satisfactory answers are given which assist in making a decision.

Third class; foreigners from a country or locality where yellow fever exists in an endemic form or habitually.—The certificate of his consul stating that he has lived in such places continuously for many years or is a native of them, or, and in addition, the certificate of a commercial or banking house of good reputation, stating how long he has lived in those localities, and that he is a native of them.

Fourth class; when the applicant is a Cuban.—He must present his cedula for his personal identification, which also must state where he was bom, his age, and where he lives. Also a certificate from the alcalde of the ward where he resides, saying how long he has lived in ward and city. Furthermore, a certificate from some thoroughly respectable and reliable source that he has lived more than five consecutive years in one of the seaports of the island. All questions pertinent to the examination must be answered candidly, upon honor, or, if deemed necessary, under oath.

The above methods are pursued with all the vigor that the case under investigation may require, until the sanitary inspector feels himself reasonably justified in giving or refusing to grant the health certificate. While not a few are refused, it is a source of satisfaction to be assured that among the several thousands who have received the health certificate and have gone to ports in the United States, in not one instance has yellow fever developed afterward.

This fact is of service in confirming the correctness of the opinion that the passengers were protected from yellow fever.

When smallpox exists at any place on the island these health-assurance certificates also certify that the individual from that place is protected from that disease by a former attack of it or by successful vaccination, and that the inspector has revaccinated the individual.

Persons who have never had smallpox or been successfully vaccinated are now vaccinated and detained six or seven days to observe the result of the vaccination, and if this proves to be successful he gets his