In these days of rapid trans-and means of com-
Imunieution the control vf infectious Aiseases, instead of being a matter of purely local significance, has become subject of international concern, "Improved means of communication has resulted In. bringing cities and nations into closer come munication, but this has not been without ite attendant evils as it has introduced diseases into territories in which they were formerly non existent, One of the primitive instincts of mankind is to protect itself against obvious sources of infection from) without, "In course of time with, ch of progress und civilize adoption of moans.
the introduction of in-Teetious diseases became more seneral, The methods. vayjed ae-cording to the prevailing knowledge ax to how diseases were spread, but it was not until the middle of the 19th century, following the di coveries of Pasteur, Koch and others that _methods of disease prevention wore initiated on a sciengitic basis.
The. Paris Convention even in its revised text is aimed primarily at the protection of Western countries from infection from the East. No provision is given to safeguard the health of ports in the Far East [where the centres of infection are much nearer "and the danger of transmission of infection constantly present.
Classification is made of {the sanitary conditions of ships instead of the health conditions of the: ports from which they come. In the East where the centres of quarantmable diseases are so near it is an unsound procedure not to take jeognizainee of the health condition ay the port of departure, Each' country in the Far East also devises its own set of quarantine laws, some: unduly severe and others altogether negligible.
Public health activity in the Hast can be exercised only within 'a limited range and in view of that it Is highly desirable to formulate a minimum standard in order that the relatively little which can be done may be directed towards promoting. the: most effective measures.
'The need for 2 Sanitary Conver tion dealing with health' problems }in the Far East was felt most keenly by those who have anything do with sanitation in the East. The Government of the Dutch East Indies was the first to propose an. Austral-Asiatic Quarantine Conference to be held in Batavia in 1922 [for the formulation of maritino quarantine regulations applicable! to ports in the East, but in view Jof the revision of the International Sanitary Convention of Paris at thay time in progress the Conference [was postponed. 'The interest of ths Health Committee of the League of Nations was then drawn to Far' Enstern health problems. by Dr. Miyajima who succeeded in getting: the League to despatch a commission to the Far East to collect informa-
The successful fight of the West-cen world against various infectious: diseases such as smallpox, plague and cholera shows what can be done the Far East against similar diseases, But the magnitude of the problem has hitherto been generally underestimated, ax the fight agains! Aisease will have tobe waged on 1 world-wide basis if there is to be any degree of stecess, The Story of Quarantine One of the frst barriers against the Introduction of disease ta by Auarantine, which "ips certain Fentraints on free Intercourse. fand and. sea. We shall consider for our purpose only maritime Atuneantine" where development Wwtld be interesting to truce here Briety. "The few attempt: to en. force' maritime' quarantine. was 1448 in' Venice, when the Venetian authorities" formulated ' cole of ttuarantine regulations aguinat the troduction of plague into the ety, Bnd the Rist quarantine age mot passed until TT. Singe then "each country. has adopted diferent quarantine regulations for itealf,"" As. the question. soon at. tained international ignifeance, several conventions had to be hel The last notable one vas the Th.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.