Abstract

The idea of quarantine had its inception in connection with the attempts on the part of the early Europeans to exclude and prevent the spread of dreaded plague or black death. Venice inaugurated such a restrictive measure as early as 1348, which was followed by other European countries. In spite of the long experience of human health quarantine, England did not establish her first health quarantine until 1710, and delayed in passing the Public Health Act until 1896. Thus we see that many years have been required to perfect the present highly efficient and valuable public health measures now maintained by all the progressive nations of the world, and accepted by all their citizens. It is my firm belief that plant quarantine will, in a much shorter space of time, attain a similar place in the affairs of civilized peoples. Fundamentally it is as sound to protect the plant life of a country from the constant encroachments of insect depredators and plant diseases as it is to protect human health. An abundant and available food supply is as essential to human beings as is health and almost as personal, because it affects the livelihood of every individual, since the prizes and availability of food are largely regulated by supply.

Keywords: