Evening star., 1898-10-24
Cleaning Cub;i.

! IT is reported from Havara that steps
are about to be taken to overcome some of
/ the unsanitary conditions which have in
/ the past given Cuba such bad reDute
| The list of deadly diseases Whfch now find
! ttefr way almost Unhindcred from one part
| of the island to another, and too often
! from the island to the mainland is long
| and appalling. Practically all the con-
! tagious and infectious ailments known
to man, with the marked exceptions of
/ cholera and the bubonc plague, flourish
season after season. Hitherto only the
most perfunctory efforts by governmental
agencies have been exerted to keep the
| diseases in control. to quarantine patients
| to prevent the spread of the germs of pol
| luton, to protect the well and to cure the
| lepers in the island yet no one has ever
| heard of a ''leper colony" in Cuba. 1t is
/ because there is none, because these unfor-
| tunatcS have never been corraIled as they
should be. and kept from the chance of
| communicating their loathsome disease to
| others. Hawaii has been roundly abused
| by the opponents of annexation as the
| home of leprOsy. The colony at Molokai
mas been pointed cut a source of un-
| Spedkable danger to the mainland. An
| neXation, it was freely predicted before
! the TACT. would mean the introduction Of
/ this dreadful disease into the states The
/ islands would make the republic pav
J heavily for their entrance. OF course these
| fears. or rather these pretended fears. had
| very minimum of foundation Hawaii
| long ago took the step required by the
| emergency and sought to stamp out the
I leprosy by the isolation of the afflicted
| She had been taught by her white preceD-
| tors who rescued her from barbaric state
| that such diseases can not safely be per
! mitted to run unchecked. even though
/ Isolation might bring much individual suf-
| fering.
! Spain could have learned a lesson from
| little Hawaii in at least this one oarticu
! lar She ignored the existence of danger,
! however. and permitted disease to run rioc
| through her fairest colony. The time has
| come for intelligence to take the place Of
| Indifference and Incompetence in the gov
| ernment Of the island. While the Aneri-
| cans have control they are going 10 seek
/ remedies for these evils. System is to re-
| Pace confusion. The people are to be
/ taught sanitary lessons. Santiago has al
/ ready experienced the benefits of intelli-
! gent control Of the health regulations the
Geath rate there falling in the midst of
! The season Of the greatest sickness to a
! point very near the normal in American
/ cities. Especial attention is to be paid to
/ the conditions at the ports of export where
| turks the grayest danger to the mainland
| Disinfectng plants are to be erected and
| efforts are to be made to reduce the men,
! ace TO our southern ports where every
| year fear of an epidemic is aroused by
! the arrival of each vessel from Cuba. Not
! only will this plan reduce the danger and
| the responsibility of the cities of our coast
| but it will benefit commerce by reducing
| The time necessary to make the voyage
] Heretofore, vessels arriving during the
| sickly season from Cuba have been de
| taincd at the port Of delivery several days
! in quarantine. If they can be disinfected
| by competent agents at the port of depart
/ Ure the period of their passage will serve
! as a quarantine season and the necessary
| fcrmaities Of examination and precution
| will not delay the discharge of cargoes.
/ II these plans are carried out in accord
| aEce with the present determination to
| cleanse Cuba and reduce the danger of
| her proximity the problem of sanitation
on the mainland VIII be greatly simpified.
/ This result is of itself worth a large part
| Of the cost Of the war with Spain.