The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-06
HAVANA UNDER SPANISH RULE.
A Perpetual Menace to the Health o
the People of America.

Perpetual Menace to the Health of
the People of America.
Medical Record.
If the only outcome of tho present war
were the disappearance of yellow fever
from Cuba and the cleansing of the pesti-
lential port of Havana, this country would
not have fought in vain. That Havana in it's
existing unsanitary condition is menace
to every neighbOring people and state Is an
assertion that can be made without fear or
contradiction. That both the town and
harbor, by. the application of little en-
cheering skill can be rendered as healthy
as any in the South is, in the opinion of the
experts, quite practicable; but that any
steps tending in this direction will be taken
under Spanish rule is lust as surely not to
be looked for. Therefore the sooner this
rule ceases in Cuba the better 1t will be for
the public health of America and of the
world at large. If proof were needed that
yellow fever is essentially disease which
f1ourishes amid filthy surroundings, and that
when these favoring conditions are removed
it abates and in some instances wholly dis
appears. we might cite Jamaica, Mexico and
the Danish West Indian islands as exam
pies of the good results following proper
sanitary measures. Indeed, north of the
equator Havana stands as almost the sole
and certainly as the chief source of this
particular form of danger to the commercial
nations Of the world From it's proximity
to Cuba. this country has been the principal
sufferer from Spanish neglect of the laws
of health and undoubtedly whatever form
of government may be decided upon Tor
Cuba, the authorities at Washington will
prevailing at Havana shall no longer con-
tinue. Many suggestions have already been
made regarding the sanitation of Havana
and it is claimed by those experienced in
such matters that there are no difficulties in
the path which cannot easily be overcome
by American ingenuity and perseverance.
The geographical conhguration of Cuba,
with hills OF a considerable height at a short
distance from the coast lends itself to an
efficient system of drainage.
Dr. George Holman, of ST. Louis, read be-
fore the medical society of the hospital
alumni of that city on May Of this year q
paper entitled THE Sanitary Redemption OF
Havana" in which the need of reform is
eoquently pointed out, as also the means
whereby the desired end may be reached
He saws: yellow fever. being essentially
a disease of sea level, thriving best in COM
bined moisture, filth and heat, clinging espe-
cially to the foreShore wharves, docks,
ship holds etc., Havana presents special
conditions for it's growth and harboring
and therefore requires special means for its
eradication. This implies one or two Things,
to wit: either that some method shall be
found by means of which the waters of the
bay may be regularly and frequently
Changed or else the pollution now poured
into it shall be diverted and safely disposed
of elsewhere. To effect the former
it has been proposed to cut canal leading
from the bay to point on the north coast
with a view to establishing current to-
ward the gulf. The other alterna-
tive is the diversion of the sewage now de-
livered into the bay and its disposal else
where without prejudice to the public
health This would involve the construc-
ton of an intercepting sewer along the
water front to receive the outfall of drains
carrying domestic and manufacturing
waste and is measure so commonly re-
sorted to that no novelty presents itself in
connection with the suggestion.
Whichever method is adopted, provided
that it is effectual, matters little, but that
the present Spanish let-things-slde" way
of management is ntolerable and should no
longer be permitted to continue is the opin-
ION Of ali civilized peoples However, a
radical change will soon be made. and we
have every reason to believe that yellow
fever will be driven from its last strong.
hold: in fact il may not be rash to predict
that if the Brazilian sanitarians can be
awakened to their duty. many OF those now
living Will see the day when yellow fever
livered from one of the most deadly Of the
tropical scourEes-