Evening star., 1899-04-07
CLEANING UP IN CUBA
Sanitary Measures in Santa CLARA and
Matansas.
Copies of Reports Forwarded by Gen.
Brooke to the War
Department.

| MAJ. zen. J0nn X. BROOKE at havana mas
| forwarded to the adjutant general copies
of reports of sanitary measures taken in
the departments of Santa Clara and Ma
tanzas. These reports give a great deal
of information, heretofore unpublished, con-
cerning the conditions prevailing and the
| possibilities of the future viewed by the
| surgeons In charge.
| Major J. H. Hysell chief surgeon Of the
| department of Santa Clara, in a report
| dated at Cienfuegos, February &c, says:
Since the departure Of the Spanish
| troops February there have been en-
ployed in cleaning up the different hospi-
| tails and barracks about 1000 men. mostly
! members of the late insurgent army. The
cities Of this province were in dirty ana
| filthy condition when the troops arrived,
| and it has required a large amount of labor
and money to place them in good sani-
i tary condition"
| The report then deals with details of the
| work of cleansing and disinfecting the cit
les in the department.
In the cities Of Cfenfuegos, Santa Clara,
| Sancti Spiritus and Trinidad were large
| barracks formerly used by the Spanish
| troops. These were cleansed and disinfect-
| ed. so that they might be occupied by
| American troops.
| There had been seven cases of yellow
fever among the troops at Sancti Spiritus,
| with one death. The source of the infec-
| tion was an old church, formerly used by
the Spanish soldiers as a hospital Other
| buildings where there were cases of small
pox and other diseases were destroyed by
| the Americans.
Smiling Faces Again Seen.
| Lieut.. Col. Timothy E. Wilcox chief sur
geon of the department of Matanzas, reports
| under date of March ) that he had visited
| thirteen different towns in the department,
| and that the rations and medical supplies
| have been distributed in these places and
greatly relieved the suffering of the people.
| The condition of the people has greatly inn
| proved. Those who have sufficiently recov-
cred from starvation and sickness have gone
| to work.
! The reconcentrados have gone back to
the country when able, but many are oblig
| ed to return for rations-food being yet
| unObtainable in sufficient quantities to SuS-
| tain them. Assistance will be required for
| nearly two months longer. Deaths from
| starvation have ceased to occur; the peo-
| pie are cheerful and hopeful. One sees
| smiling faces and hears laughter and sing
| ing. The horrible pictures which were
| everywhere in evidence in January are for
| the most part wanting, although anemia
and debility from malarial diseases are
| still present. One report gave $50 deaths
| during the year and twenty-fiv births dur
| ing the same period.
1t was found that canned tomatoes were
rot desirable, and Col Wilcox has recon-
| mended that an equivalent Of rice be add
| ed to that already allowed.
1t appears, says Col. Wilcox, that the
| limit of safety for unaccimated troops in
| this province is May 1. After that date
| paludal fevers, well yellow fever, may
| be expected. This is the consensus of opin-
ion of medical men throughout the province
| visited
Transportation by regular trains subjects
| one to great delay, the number of pas
| senger trains each way is usually limited
to one daily, and some bi-weekly; but, hav-
| ing obtained permission to ride on cargo
| trains. which included everything going
over the road-Sugar trains locomotives
it possible to make fair progress,
| which was attended with no very great
| discomfort
| Schools were found in operation and ap-
| parenuy well attended.
Improved Conditions in Matanxas.
| Major E. F. Taggart, chief commissary
of the Department OF Matanzas, also makes
| a report. He says that there can be no
| doubt about the wisdom of furnishing
| sistance to the destitute. The conditions
were such that if food had rot been fur
| nished starvation would have resulted in
many cases. He adds: Many of the best,
and apparently disinterested citizens, who
| are in good circumstances, have asserted
| that the issuing of free rations is a mis-
| take because those who fed will not
| work.
| II am convinced that no rations are being
| issued to those who can work, and that a
| continuation of the free issue of rationS is
| SO necessary to the health and strength of
| those who cannot work that without this
/ assistance many of them must surely die
| On account of the improved conditions all
| over the province one-third of those who
| received rations the past month are able to
provide for themselves now"