Telegram-herald., 1889-11-17

sAsaia Ne AREsx - fsr ssiS-f F.,ses-
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m re- tFa d GA .far NeF a.
Dr b. lsm,a Lee. - p 41e -
secretary ot the Pennsylsana otstc
Boara u Health, sho las been staying
for a few day. n tlls eits. has utilized
hs opportamtes "a x tst.ng among
ais profess.9a4l brethren tse question
81 tle annexation OF Cabz, for san.taFy
reasons. speaking on ths subject yes
tesdays Or. lee sad.
Havana Is one Of the most notorious
breeding places of yellow fever. and is
never free frofa is presence The oely
means ~ EniCa tAe germs * LIS d-s-
ease can oe eTadlc&tsa are q proper
systeln of sewerage and drainage. winch
shall deliver tAe filth OF the clly at a
distant point into tie waters OF TIE
OCEAN, and the removal or all fecuient
SOIL There ls 10 hope, however mat
tne spanish GoyeFnmentwllleve undef-
take work ot thls magnitude for de-
I pendency. The introduction oI yellow
Fever INTO the In tedstates through poth
/ .eglumate and illegal channels OF trade
must be OF frequent occurrence 20
long IS lhis condition OF things conAn-
ues- A single ald spread ep.denne ot
/ the disease Won 3 cost the United states
more IA mOne y-tO say nothing 0I the
| grief and IA ~ lJ would eutall-tn2n
/ the purchase OF Cuba. Moreover, the
| precautions against the spread Of small
| pOx in Cuba are entirely inadequate,
and are rendered ineffective ~ reason
OF the superstition OF large proper
non of the inhabitants. Hence
ep.demcs Of this lOAthsome dis
ease are II frequent occur
renee. Finally, leprOsy prevails in
Havana and the island of Cuba 70
serious and constantly increasing eX-
tent. IL Is absolutely unrestricted in
this island. While there is an immense
and admirably administered leper hos
pltal ~ Havana, It's inmates 90 and
come among the residents of the city
and country at Will, until lOcOmOuon Is
rendered impossible by mutilaton Be
/ sides, the ravages of the disease are CON
fined TO no class or race. Leprosy has
out one history, thatof constant prOgres-
sion unless II is checked by isolation of
the mCst absolute and unre.enting
character. 1t has already obtained a
fOOthold IN the United States in the
ports nearest 10 and IN most constant
communication with Cuba. No center
of leprosy has ever originated in this
country. The Importation of the first
case of series can always be- distinctly
traced. In view of these facts feel
myself warranted IN urging upon the
medical profession especially the
agitation of this subject of the
annexation Of Cuba. The uninter-
mitted presence of the three most
serious known con tagiOns in the Island
of Cuba is a constant menace 10 the
people of the United States. This con-
ditiOn must continue SO long as this
island Is mere dependency of a
country 5000 miles distant. | sincerely
believe il Is the duty Of the medical
and sanitary bodies of the United
States 10 urge upon the President the
expediency of opening negotiations
with the Spanish Government, with
view to the amicable transfer of
| Cuba to the Government of the United
States. In the meanwhile IT should be
the care and duty of the United States
Marine Hospital Service, the Florida
State Board of Health and quarantine
commissioners of ports having inter-
course with Cuban ports TO exercise the
same vigilance with regard to leprOsy
that is already observed in the case Of
yellow fever during what is known as
the quarantine season."