Reports of the Representative of the President on the State Quarantine Board
Collection
Identifier: CPP 10/020-01
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of triennial reports submitted to the President of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by Richard A. Cleemann, representative of the President on the State Quarantine Board of Pennsylvania. The reports, 1893 to 1911, document the activities of the Board. The reports discuss the formulation of the rules and regulations of the Board, the selection of the location for the new quarantine station, and the expenses involved in the project. Also included are figures on the number of ships inspected, delayed, or disinfected, and the number of patients examined, treated, or detained during each year. Cleemann discusses the prevalence of certain diseases, such as cholera, smallpox, yellow fever, malaria, and beri-beri and describes individual cases of interest. Included among the appendices of Cleemann’s 1896 report is a supplement to the Quarantine Act of 1893 and "Eight cases of beri-beri" (1893 Dec. 5), a report from the Quarantine Physician, Henry C. Boenning. Also of note is Cleemann’s report of 1911 in which he describes an incident at the wharf on Snyder Avenue in Philadelphia. The steamship "Verona", recently arrived from Italy, was delayed at the wharf while its passengers were vaccinated. Impatient friends and family members waiting on the dock pressed forward, pushing some people into the river. Cleemann described the incident as an "ugly state of affairs along the [Delaware] River".
Dates
- 1893 - 1911
Creator
Biographical / Historical
The Bliss Quarantine Bill was passed by the Pennsylvania State Legislature and signed by the governor on 5 June 1893. The bill called for the creation of a State Quarantine Board, which would draft rules and regulations for the operation and administration of a new marine quarantine station on the banks of the Delaware Bay or River. The Board consisted of seven members, including the President of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia or a representative sent by him, the Secretary of the State Board of Health, the President of the Philadelphia Maritime Exchange, the Health Officer of Philadelphia, the Quarantine Physician, a member appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia, and a member appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania. S. Weir Mitchell, President of the College of Physicians in 1893, selected Richard A. Cleemann to be his representative. Cleemann served on the State Quarantine Board until his death in 1912, when William M. L. Coplin was chosen as the new representative. The Bliss Quarantine Bill, in addition to creating a State Quarantine Board, required that the operations of the present quarantine station be discontinued. This "Lazaretto", located on Tinicum Island on the banks of the Delaware River, was in operation only during the summer months and lacked adequate facilities. The Board selected Marcus Hook, Pa., as the location for a new quarantine station. The State Quarantine Board continued to meet annually until its dissolution in 1920.
Extent
.2 Linear feet (1 half document box)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The source of this collection of reports of the College of
Physician's Representative to the State Quarantine Board is
unknown.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.
The collection was processed and catalogued in 1991.
Creator
- Title
- Reports of the Representative of the President on the State Quarantine Board
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
