The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-01-01
AE.EARxED sAvANT TALKS.
Cleanliness the Only Preventive of
Yellow Fever.

DR.. GDier says lie has Mule Some Wonderful
Dtscoceries of Iaestinao5le Tuzue II tue Cause
Of Sclence-1he -Mcr,be a Licing Realit}.
DR.. Paul Gibier, the eminent French physl-
Clan sent by the French government. 10 stndv
the yellow fever during the late epidemic at
Jacksonville, was called on during his visit tc
ST. Augustine by an Evening News reporter. and
was asked as To the result OF his Investigations
Il have made" remarked The Doctor, some
wonderful discoveries, which will be OF inesti-
mabe value to the Cause Of science; but my
first du'y is to my government, and to it I must
make my first report"
What Is your opinion regarding the recur-
renee OF the fever next year? - was The next in
terrOgatOIy.
Il don't believe it will recur again, although,
1t VIII depend very much on the S'epS taken by
the au hOritles. jacksonville, when the fever
appeared there, was in very unsantary condi-
ton that invited disease Tnev are making
many improvements, bu, are still in danger
The sewerage system is frghtful, and the river is
full OF organic matter, in which the germs of dis
ca are developed. The sewers get full OF sand
aud choked up, and i will be necessary 10 pre-
serve the health OF the city, to carry the sewer
age IN point below the city
"While the wharyes and bulkheais that line.
the river front are not filled in and allow organic
matter to effect Il lOdgment and decompose they
will be constant menace to the safety of the
city
What do YOU think of the sanitary condition.
OF s.. Augusiine?" 2" queried the reporter.
As Tar as have observed, your city is in an
excellent condition. | should think il would be-
avery healthy city, much more so than Jackson
willie. Ia tact there is no comparison between
tn Two places"
Do you regard the laying Of block pave
meni, such as We have here, "a good sanitary
measure ,"
Excellent! Excellent, !" he replied e. Those
n MY 4n]-
they are talking about. l have examined the
pavement i'll Jacksonville AMI am convinced
that the microbe is not propagated by it. The
microbe loves stagnant water and what you
want to guard against is pools where organic
matter exists
'Ynn b.lieve in the existence of the microbe
then p
do not make public my belief" he replied
81 only state facts which have zen deInnnstrat-
ed t" certainty. Il is a certainty th.t The mi
crobe is living reality"
The reporter then mentioned the fact of Dr.
Nllavcencos being in the city. The Doctor
was unaware of the fact an would have been
pleased to have met him. Wnen asked what he
thought OF the theory of incubation, which
Dr. Nllavcenco so earnestly advocated, the
Doctor shook his head with ,!eprecaiOry air,
and replied that, to put it mildly, the Spanish
physician was in error and that the theory was
OF nc avail In checking or preventing the dis
else
" What is your idea Of the establishment of
State Board OF Health p was the next query
:" am not we'll enough acquainted with your
political system to know how that would act,
but believe that every city will have to take
care or Itself. It's municipal council must fur
nish the means. and enforce the laws of santa
ton; aud above ali, prevent any stagnant water
remaining. Fill up your pools and make your
city a dry city. l Am glad to know that your
marshes are being filled up. Microbes develop
IN salt water equally as well as i'm fresh where
the conditions are favorable; and the filling in
OF the marshes will far TO insure the health of
your city"
When asked about The quar- inin regulations,
the Doctor replied that it Was very go6l thing;
ont the best way to prevent yellow fever was
to keep Inc city clean H thinks that the in-
crease oi our commercial relations with Cuba
and South Amerlcan DORIS is 4 snnrcn of da nUer