The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-27
THE FILTH AT HAVANA
The Sanitary Condition Described
by Surgeon Runner.

Surgeon Drummer. of the Marine Hospital
Service, yesterday submitted a report to
Surgeon General Wyman regarding the
sanitary conditions of Havana, in which
he says:
Street cleaning is a matter now Of daily oc.
ourIence, and If followed up viii be of great
sanitary benefit IN the near future. While it is
possible TO remove waste daily accumulated, il
Is almost impossible TO make the paved streets
mechanically clean when the mud and filth are
carried 10 them from the unpaved streets
Again, each rain washes the mud from the
higher 10 the lower streets. making them filtIy
The sidewalks being covered with slippery filth
The Prado, Zulueta and other streets which have
been paved with a rotten limestone, or what Is
called cheat. and which fouls badly after rains
and il easily washed away. must be repavcd,
preferably with asphalt. before that part OF the
city between them and the bay can be swept
clean The paving Of the streets named can be
cone tins winter with little danger to the health
OF the residents said streets provided the work
i begun Immediately and finished before June J.
This statement is based on the fact that there
l. little grading to be done on these streets 10
prepare them for the paycmcnts. and also because
there has been no iouling OF the Streets the rains
invariably sweeping away the rotten limestone
with tie accumulated waste matter. The paved
streets certainly those ia the oldest part Of the
ctty, should not he touched this winter If being
now too late TO begin work on them without dis.
astrOus results.
The wlaryes at Regia, about which much ha,
heen SAID IN seycra, o. my Iepons have ct last
been made mechanically cle7n. unquestionably
these whlrves should be thoroughly washed and
scrubbed With strong solution - bichlOride Of
mercury, "a the eNcreta OF Thousands of soldiers
have been deposited on these wharvcs daily since
last August. and hundreds Of cases Of entcric
fever, dysentrry, and dianhoea occurred among
them. Only one death from yellow fever has come
10 my notice during the weck-an American an
employe OF the tstom service, died on January
4. learn tiIat there two additional cases
Of smallpox in the One Hundred and Sixtv.Hrt
Indiana Regiment There are only few ,ascs
OF the disease, and / know Of only two cases
now cvi-iing in the city. There i growing
trade between ports in Florida and Havana. and
the vessels employed in said rade-small schooners
Invariably 90 to the CabaleEia wharf, where
they discharge their cargocs and remain several
DAYS
The crowds of vessels from Key West are in
all probability immune to yellow fever but the
vessels themselves may become infected without
rs appearance in the crews. This condition of
Affairs would be more dangerous than il the dis
ease actually appeared aboard
Passenger traffic to the United States Is increas.
ing rapidly. Some of the vessels carving passcp-
gers 10 ports in Florida occasionally 20 10 the san
Juan wharf. IL is not a common practice but
when these vessels bring considerable army ma.
tcrial they land it at this wharf This should To-.
stopped.