Evening journal., 1898-07-30
HEAIlrH 1N THE TRoPIcs.

Ny TO conquer the tropics and to maklol !
sbmself a permanent home in those al
rNghtful regions Ia on that has hithel,
to- possessed purely academic intNI-
ssa for physicians in this country, bulJ
thel fortunes Of war and projects Cet
ANNEXATION are making It probable thalt
this will soon be changed. Port o
RicoL the Sandwich Islands, and Tho
Philippines are all tropical islands, an a
if they. one and all, come under ouf
flag, doubtless many Of our citizen 8
Will so thither to seek their fortunefL
and the question Of acslimatizatio b
win az once become a most Braeticei u
one.
We and in the British Medical Joult- |
nal of April so an interesting accourES
OF what is, therefore, for us a most
timely discussion ON this topic. Tb @ |
discussion took place in the rooms 'of
: the Royal Geographical Society,". I'm
the presence OF many OF the best
! known authorities on tropical phthOl-
ogy. Most OF those taking part in the
L debate held that there is no reason
whatever why the white man should
u not be able to adapt himself to the new
. conditions Of life In the tropics and
N protect himself against the diseases
that prevail I'M those regions. Tho
So popular belief that the white man can
not successfully colonize the tropics is
u disproved by the fact that he has done
RI 80. It is undoubtedly true that many
he northerners who go to equatorial re-
n glons contract diseases there and de,
but in the majority OF such cases the
man is the victim of his obstinate un-
willingness to change his habits I'm re-
spect to eating, drinking and clothing
er and to conform his mode OF life to the
re new conditions.
III The chief diseases, both acute and
"a chronic, OF tropical countries-thosC
which formerly caused such ravages
in among the white settlers and gave rise
to the prevalent theory that Europeans
'ni could live only IN the temperate zone
are all microbic In origin and conse
~ quently preventable in great measure
IA We cannot, OF course, expect to se'
SG- them absolutely wiped out Of existence
at least this side OF the sanitary mil
exit lennfum, but their sting, like that o
81 smallpox, can jbe extracted by mean
arf of an improved public and private by
giene and other prophylactic measure.
,r A comparison OF tse healthfulness c
'N' the West Indian Islands under enlighi
nya ened British rule with that Of the tw
until recently under Spanish nisrul
SHOW swhat can be done by eanitationt
convert a pest hole into q paradise. II
~ deed, as Dr. L. Sambon. in opening u
~ discussion above referred 10. well sal
! u sanitation has within the last few a
IRA. cadGa wrought wonderful changes
.has AL tropical solmtrIes as regards iieel1
NM conditions. and tbs chanaHs haVa b0'
iustI DO great in sOma dAces that regiol
J at3which weTe once considered most dea
ly are now even pocOmmended
thSi health resorts.
faloi Dr. Patrick Manson, than who
ates there Is no greater authority on 4
lors pathology Of equatorial regions. begi
are his remarks with tho confession tn
IS a in former years, under the influence
q 90 early teaching, he shared IN the pes'
misttc opinions then current sbo
! sch tropical colonization by the Will
'ont races. In recent years. however.
more views on this SUBJECT had undergo
aida a complete revOhiHon-a reyoluti
RTdS that began with the establishment
a'ue the germ theory OF disease. He m
: firmly believed tn tho possibility
o.,,'- tropical colonization by the VIII
1sts- races Heat and moisture. lie conter
nv ed, were nos Ian themselves the dir
8 the cause OF any important tropical d
ered ease. The direct cause OF ninSty-ni
9lba per cent. OF these diseases are gerr
hFee When these germs and their habits {
laAe fully known. victory will be will
htS mans grasp. Most fniorO-parasi
"a a when they are once within the bo
rned are fairly safe. But these same pa
bout sites, in order that their respect
full" species may keep in existence
is IL spreading from one host to anOth
rated must at s5me time or another leave
me- human body, and during this nee
long. sais eAti" oipOie'1- % ~,
n the emlnently Vulner"Dle' ~ NH mem
simply matter OF knowledge and
as application OF this knowledge-that
mt of to say, sanitary science and sanitati
lding journal Of the Military Service
shot. s,,tption
d out
his cuvpauAN, yrrssU or TIME WAR
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ba Inc ItpJIlS Ol lllb lolAi AiuiD tntlNa