Hence it is we find in that valuable mass of evidence collected by the Supervising SurgeonGeneral of the MarineHospital Service and lying upon my table here. that this opinion is confirmed by all distinguished scientists and medical men who have been charged with the protection of the people of Russia and Germany and other countries of Europe against the cholera in the recent epidemic. The plan of sanitation. and short detention. and disinfection has been found to be a secure protection. There is no question. while cholera is not as liable to be introduced by passengers in the cabin as it is by the great mass of immigrants in the steerage of a ship. that it is not a respecter of persons. and that it will be found in the cabin as well as in the steerage. While in view of the facts that at many of our different ports there is no adequate mode of disinfecting and protecting the community from danger from those people except by their 9xclusion. it is certainly true that it is incumbent upon the United States to see that in every locality where there is intercourse with foreign countries. where this disease or any other infectious or contagious disease is prevailing. it is the duty of the United States to see that that commerce shall be confined. so far as it has the power to do it. to the places where the passengers and the freight of commerce may be thoroughly disinfected and made safe to enter into the country. The ravages of this disease and of the yellow fever are almost equal to those of the plague in ancient times. which nearly destroyed the population of some of the countries of Europe. which actually destroyed all commerce and made those cities a desolation. and it is a possible thing today that the same causes may produce the same results. There is poverty in all our great cities. The circumstances which surround a vast number of the people in every crowded center of population are such as to make disease almost natural to them. and when it comes in an epidemic form. under our present social and industrial system. it will find vast numbers of the people dependent upon public charity and public measures for their protection against any form of general epidemic disease. The Committee on Immigration should have. in connection with the question of immigration. the question of the introduction of epidemic disease by means of immigration. and with the Senator from Tennessee. as I am informed. and with the Senator from Maryland. who represented his committee. have taken evidence upon this subject which clearly indicates that there is no question of more pressing importance resting upon this Congress than legislation for the adoption of the discoveries of modern science. which have been proved to be efficacious for the prevention of the general spread of this disease. The bill. therefore. of the Senator from Tennessee has precedence in importance to any which is now before this Congress or which is liable to be before this Congress. It is not without the limits of a reasonable probability from the experience of Europe that if this disease obtains a firm hold upon this country. not less than one million human beings will be its victims. and that there will be a suspension of industry which will cause a loss of money. an interruption of commerce. that can not be estimated even by the hundreds of millions of dollars. but questions of humanity are paramount to these.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants in steerage are more likely to carry cholera than cabin passengers.