Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-15
AN IMPORTANT COMMISSION
The Visit Of Yellow Fever Investigators
to Havana.
New York limos.

New York Times.
Among the passengers who sailed
for Havana yesterday afternoon on the
steamship City of Washington were
the commissioners appointed recently
by the national board Of health to
investigate the nature and causes OF
yellow fever, and especially to consid-
er measures for preventing its impor-
tation to this country. The commits
sion is composed of DR.. Sanford Il.
Chaille, of New Orleans, chairman ;
Surgeon G. NJ. Sternberg, Of the
United States army DR.. John Guiti-
ras, of. Philadelphia, and Colonel
Hardee. sanitary engineer, Of New
Orleans. Colonel Hardee did not
embark on the steamer, but will ,meet
his associates on their arrival in Ha-
vana. Prominent physicians of the
Southern States now believe hat the
dreaded malady does not break out in
this country except by introduction.
The main object, therefore, in sending
the commission is to ascertain whether
or not anything eau be done in Havana
to prevent the sailing Of infected yes
fscls from that port without materially
Einiuring commerce. Aside from this
all-important phase of Its prospective
duties, the commission has been
\ specifically instructed to use every
means within its reach to throw
Eight on the question Of yellow
fever poison. The members are
equipped with the best microscopes
chat could be found in the United
States and Europe, ard they also carry
with them all the necessary appliances
for a thoroughly appointed laboratory,
which it is their intention to establish
immediately after reaching their des-.
tination. Accompanying them are a.
clerk and a photographer. The duties
Of the latter will be confined to the,
taking and preparation of photo
micrographs of blood and of the
organs involved in yellow fever. The
commissioners intend tovisit the hos
pitfalls daily to observe the progress of.
the disease, making exhaustive post
mortem examinations otthe bodies of
victims, and obtaining specimens OF
blood for microscopic examination at
the laboratory. Examinations and
analysis of the air of infected locgli-
ties will also be made in order to as
certain, if possible, whether the yellow
fever poison can be demonstrated
chemically or by the microscope. AT
the end Of three months the commits
s%ioners are to return aud submit a
detailed report of the results Of their
Investigation to the national board of
health in Washington.
Medical men throughout the coun-
try regard the object Of the commits
sion as one of the greatest Importance
to the profession at large, and are san
guine that the forthcoming report will
contain developments of peculiar sig
~niicance. The gentlemen who com
pose the commission are eminently
qualified to perform their trying du-
ties. DR.. Chaille, the chairman, is a
native Of Mississippi. Having lived
in New Orleans many years. he has
had an extensive experience in humer-
Gus yellow fever epidemics. He stud
led in France several years, and is pro-
lessor of Psychology in the university
of the commission, and is a surgeon in
the United States army. He has had.
an extensive experience in the treat
ment Of yellow fever, having served on
Governors Island during the epidemic
Of 1870, and afterward in Pensacola
harbor during 1873, 1874 aud 1875.
During the rebellion he was for two
years secretary Of the beard Of health,
under military authority. DR.. Guiti-
ras is a native of Cuba. He has, dur
ing the past ten years, lived in Phila-
delphia, where he received his medi-
cal education, Colonel Hardee, the
sanitary engineer, Is connected with
the board OF health of New Orleans,
He served on the commission appoint
ed several months ago to investigate
the causes Ofthe last yellow fever cpl
demic in the South. The commission
boarded the steamship Yesterday long
before the moment of departure. At
ter seeing hat their large quantity of
baggage had been delivered and prop
erly slowed, they retired to their state
rooms, which are pleasantly situated
on the forward part of the upper deck.