Evening star., 1898-11-17
THE HEALTH GORDON
1t VIII Protect the Country From
Yellow Fever.
OFFICIALS TAKE TIMELY STEPS
Sanitation and Quarantine in Cuba
During Winter Months,
ALL GERMS TO BE KILLED

The yellow fever problem has been re-
ceiving earnest attention of late from the
authorities here, particularly from the
marine hospital service and the War De-
partment, owing to the important new re-
lations established with Cuba and other
fever localities to the south of us. and also
because of the recurrence of the disease
within this country during the last sum-
mer
The purpose is to prepare during the COM
ing winter months for such an efficient
Gordon of protection around the country
that the chances of rentroduction of the
disease will be reduced to a minimum, while
at the same time the points of infection in
Cuba and elsewhere will be so improved by
sanitation, and guarded by quarantine, that
the main sources of danger will be re-
moved.
Already the marine hospital service has
begun it's work of establishing a Gordon of
quarantine around Cuba. a large floating
disinfecting plant is in operation in Havana
harbor and "a similar floating disinfecting
plant is at Santiago, although not yet in
operation.
Removing All Germs.
These are to take charge of the shipping
coming to American ports and put it
through such thorough disinfection that all
fever germs will be removed. Similar float
ing plants will be established at all other
large commercial points. and such rigid
rules put in force that the shipping will be
free from danger before it is out of Cuban
waters although the same rigid quarantine
at American ports will be continued.
Surgeon General Wyman is going ahead
with this floating disinfection, although the
present laws are not all that is desired to
give officials the right to establish quaran-
inc eli de of ha nyir to, = ,ic
weakness of the law, strong efforts will
be made to have Congress pass what is
known the Caffrey bill, granting addi-
tional quarantine powers.
Besides the quarantine to provide against
the escape of diseases from the island, the
authorities are now considering plans for
the internal sanitation of the island on an
extensive scale. What branch of the serv-
ice will have that in charge is not yet set
tied. Surgeon General Wyman says the
marine hospital service will undertake the
work if it is desired. But as Cuba will be
under military rule for many months to
come the War Department may determine
to carry on the local sanitation in connec-
tion with its other branches of military oc-
cUpation and control.
Just what should be done in the way of
draining, clearing away foul deposits and
establishing modern sanitary methods at
the main points of Cuba is being thorough
ly canvassed by officials here, and it is ex-
pected that plan, and the ones to execute
lflS pan, Will De uScIQ6u Oh dl an early QdN.
Work for Experts.
Another means of coping with the disease
is by statiOnng force of fever experts
throughout the island to report on the con-
dition of contagion and the appearance Of
any new outbreak The surgeon general
now has two Of these experts at Havana
and one at Santiago, and this will be the
nucleus of a much larger force. Two other
experts. Surgeons Wa5din and GedGings.
left here yesterday for Havana. raising the
force there to four officers, besides the sub
ordinates and assistants.
The work of MeSsrS. WaSdin and Gcd-
dings is considered particularly important,
as they are specially appointed by thc Pres
ident as a commission to ascertain the
causes of yellow fever. This appoin! !ment
was made about a year ago. and the eX-
perts have opened laboratories and conduct
ed their inquiries at New Orleans and EIa-
vana.
The work a Havana was interrupted by
the war. but the laboratory outfit did rot
suffer during hOstilties, aud they now re-
turn to resume the investigation. Their
preliminary report to the surgeon ger,ol"l,
submitted a few days ago, is SAID % be one
of the most important contributions to
medical science made in recent days as il
practically sustains the Sanarcli theory
that yellow fever is he outgrowla of q
certain organism.