The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-05
YELLOW fever DANGEl
WON'T KEEP THE AMERICANS
OUT OF CUBA
Gross Ignorance and Carelessnsss
Explain the Prevalence Of the
Disease in Cuba

| CHICAGO, May 4.-Dr. Jno. B. Hamilton,
former Surgeon-General Of the Marine
Hospital service of the United States, In an
address given at the Physicians Club,
maintained that the danger from yeilow
fever In Cuba Is much exaggerated. The
paper was In regard to camp hygiene, and
accepted thories Of the heat conditions in
Cuba.
DR.. Hamilton began with a brief sum-
mary Of his past experience in sanitary
camps of various kinds. At the time Of the
Civil War, he said, little thought was given
to the matter, provided there was plenty
Of water and hillside on which to pitch
the tents. We acquired considerable ex.
perience during the war and later. In 1852
and 1888 he had charge of the big yellow
fever camps in Texas and Florida. The
refugees camp near Jacksonville he had
built in five days and there worked out tho
system which he advocates for use in tho
present war. He described the camp in
Jacksonville and stated that the basis OF
the while system was the twice-a-day in
spection.
In 1892 he built the cholera camp at Sandy
Hook, the first of its kind He stated
positively that the nurses and attendants
never ran any danger from disease like
cholera and yellow fever in these open-air
camps.
After the comments on hygienic camps,
DR.. Hamilton took up the question of yell
low fever in Cuba and its treatment. Tho
danger to our soldiers, he said, was not
half as great as the people believe. He
had no hesitation in saying that Cuba was
naturally as healthful a country as any
In the tropics. He then enumerated tho
places where yellow fever was first propa.
gated; the infected buildings in Havana,
the infected wharves, and, lastly, the up
per end Of the Bay of Havana. This, no
said, was the principal cause Of all tho
trouble. In this part of the bay the water
Is stagnant and filthy and breeds disease.
On the banks is established the Military
Hospital. Instead of taking the sick SOL
diers upon the hills, they are put in this
infected building. Was 1t any wonder, he
asked, that the fever could not be con-
trolled?
consideration of the geographical con-
dtions in Cuba showed that the hills back
of Matanzas are twelve to fifteen hundred
feet high, and back of Havana they are
eight or nine hundred feet high. BY maxi
ing the camps on these hills, he said, the
danger would be greatly reduced. There
Is no Otner sea coast city Where IL would
be necessary to keep troops, provided the
system of regular and careful inspection
be maintained. The stagnant portion Of
the Bay of Havana could be purified by O
canal from the Almendarez River, and,
after a period of proper household SANTA
ton in the city of Havana would become es
healthful as any city in the tropics.
He calls attention to the fact that Eng
land had given lesson in sanitation at
Jamaica. At one time Kingston was as
subject to yellow fever as Havana, but
ROW cases seldom occur.
The carelessness of the government, he
eAta woe the prinoina' cause Of all. the
yellow fever danger in Cuba Not half
the necessary precautions were taken at
the wharves. where the danger was great
est.
In conclusion Dr. Hamilton said there
had been reason enough for war with
Spain before the present crisis. Any coun-
try which would carelessly allow such q
disease-breeding center to affect the ships
of the world without any effort to improve
the conditions, deserved nothing better
than the most severe and summary punish
ment,