The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-06
Advising the Annexation of Cuba.

Dr. Benjamin Lee, of Philadelphia. sec
rotary Of the state board of health of Penn
sylvania, is making an effort to get the
medical profession of the entire country to
join him in agitating the question of the
annexation of Cuba to the United States
for sanitary reasons. He insists that Cuba
will be source of danger to the health of
this country as long as it remains depend
ency of Spain, for the reason that Spain
will never enforce such sanitary regula-
tions as are necessary to make the island
healthy
DIR. Lee says that not only is yellow fever
present in Havana all the months of the
year, but that there is great deal of
leprosy there He also says that no ade-
quate means are provided to check small
pox, which frequently prevails to an alarm
ing extent In Cuban towns. A system of
sewerage and drainage is needed in Ha-
vana, by which the filth of the city can be
delivered at some distant point into the
waters Of the ocean, instead of being
emptied into the harbor as at present.
Such system would of course cost a great
deal of money! but this country, if it had
possession of Cuba, would promptly pro-
vide it, because, however great the amount
of money needed might be, it would be less
than what a single epidemic of yellow fever
would cost.
DIR. Lee assumes that the people of this
country don't know the extent that leprosy
exists in Havana. According to his &C
count there is large number of cases of
it there, and the number is steadily increas-
ing Little or no attempt is made to check
it. Indeed, the only way to check it is to iso-
late those afflicted with it. No effort to do
that is made in Havana, and consequently
the people there are continually exposed to
it. II the doctor is correct cases Of the dis
eases have been brought from Havana into
those p orts Of this country which are near
est to Cuba, and the Introduction of others
may reasonably be expected.
There IS no doubt that as rigid quaran-
tine should be maintained against leprosy
as against yellow fever, particularly in the
Florida ports. While there is not SO much
fear Of leprosy as there is of yellow fever,
because 1t spreads so slowly, nevertheless if
it should get o foothold in this country it
would be source of constant terror. 1t is
the most loathsome of diseases, and the
mere mention of it excites feeling Of
horror.
The MORNING NEWS, a year or two ago,
and several times since, suggested the ad-
visibility of opening negotiations with
Spain for the purchase of Cuba, and the
suggestion met with very general favor,
especially in this part of the country. The
purpose of obtaining possession of Cuba is
not due of course to any desire for more
territory, but to protect that which we
| have already.
DIR. Lee is entitled to all the encourage
ment that can be given him. 1t is GER
tainly to be hoped that he will succeed in
interesting the medical profession of all the
states In the question of the annexation of
Cuba. If the health boards of the different
states should take some action in this matter
they would undoubtedly succeed in drawing
the attention of congress to it. With con-
greSs interested and public sentiment favor
able there would be ground for hoping that
something would be done soon looking to
| giving this country control of Cuba.