The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-19
CAUSES OF YELLOW FEVER.
pJyDTNG THAT PROF SINAhELLh
nIsCoIRRED THE TRUE SOURCE

Tn. National InvestiGation Dlsoiose, a'
Oh. Fever Enters Through the Lunts
"a Do..r,t Affect tho Bacillus, but
Drynes, Produced by Frost Destroys H'
w,su,raroy. Aug. 1S.-The report OF the
,ui..Ion Amounted by authority OF the
prasidsnt and the Secretaryo OF the Treasury last
xoyambsr TO in vestigate in Havana the nature
-, yellow fever, has been made public by the
Marine Hospital Service. Ihe commission
Undated OF Surgeon Eugene Wasdin and
D., A.sistnnt-S Surgeon GeddinRs OF the
Marin. Uo.pital Service. The work carried on
h, these officers was confined largely 10 tesIihs
thu assertion OF Prot Sanarelli OF bologna
Italy, that the bacillus tc'hTotdes u 'ne eau'o
OF yellow fever. and the conclusion uraNh
that the Italian scientist mas 'ou"o '' "
source OF the disease
Tho commissioners Investigation was car
,,.d IN In the laboratory OF the Marine Hospital
earvice in Havana where the cases OF 2Z per-
sons helieyed by the local physicians TO be
.ufYerinR from yellow fever were examined
Eacb case was the subject during ana. II pos
.ihle after the disease, OF searching bacterio-
logical study OF the II cases diagnosed as
yellov fever the commission isolated the or
aapism OF Sanarelli, the 6dcithts ichero'dps'
from 10. and In the case in which TINS organ
lam sscaped the observation Of this commits
obseryer for whom tubecultures had
h.en taken at necropsy conducted by
,ho commission Thus the even per-
centaee OF isolation has been observed
in these fourteen cases. all OF which presented
prominent symptoms OF the disease In the
cases not thus diagnosed. the organism OF sana-
ralIi WINS not obtained The commission hav-
inc preseryed a number OF cultures made at
the isolation hospital in the city OF New
Orleans from cases seen during the cpl
demic OF 1897. also isolated there from the
bacillus tcteroides in the proportion OF
"a ~ per cent OF the cases examined. Thus
he identity OF the bacillus icterotdes OF
the Southern States. with that found In
Cuba and that sent to the commission by
prof Sanarelli which was obtained In South
Anerica was established. Numerous expert
ments were made with animals. the commits
sion finding all the animals at its command.
such as mice. rats, dogs. cats. guinea pigs. RAD
bits and monkeys. quite susceptible to the ar
tiicial infections produced by inoculating
them under tho skin.
The commission has determined that the
infection takes place by way OF the respiratory
tract" and that the primary colonization in
the lungs Ia responsible for the first evidences
OF absorptive intoxication such as foyer. pains.
etc characteristic Of the disease. Also that
this primary colonization in the lungs and Its
noison symptoms may constitute the entire
attack OF the disease In many instances. an
attack so light. so ephemeral that even the
rrost e.nert diacono.ticians may not
differentiate them from other ephemera. or
poorly marked attacks Of allied diseases.
The influence OF the various dIsinfecting
.oonts unon the bacillus icteyojdes has been
studied by the commission with an eye to the
nrectical advantages to be derived from bet
A. t.
found that the oreanism In readily influenced
Nv the mechanical and chemical aRepts In or
dinorvu Cold. however. is not a factor in
tbia nrocess for the organism resists the most
extensive refrigeration and no reliance can be
n,acsd on this mode Of disinfectiop. On the other
hand the organism cannot withstand artificial
drying for more than ten to twelve days. and 1t
is very probable that its susceptibility to frost
is due to the lessened humidity OF the atmos-
phere at such seasons rather than to the de-
gree Of cold experienced. Sunlight is very
fatal to this organism. the commission says.
and more SO II the organism has lost it's vital
ity through evaporation Of its fluids. as in
frosty atmosphere.
The conclusion OF the commission. as given
In the report. Is as follows;
First: That the microorganism discovered
BY Prof. sanarelli. and by him named bacillus
lcterodes. is the cause Of yellow fever.
Second That yellow fever is naturally In
lectlous to certain animals. the degree varying
with the species; that in some rodents local
Infection svery quickly followed by blood infec-
ton. and that, while in dogs and rabbits there is
10 evidence OF this subsequent invasion Of the
blood. monkeys react to the infection the same
as man.
Third: That infection takes place by way
Oft respiratory tract. the primary colon liza
ton In this tract giving rise to the earlier
Fourth: That in many cases OF the disease.