The times., 1899-04-10
CUBA NO LONGER
4 PLAGUE SPOT
Sanitation Reduces Disease to
a Minimum.
Starvation Ceases to Decimate the
People.
Wns Necessary. Says Cen
eral Brooke.

Maj Gen. John p. Brooke has forwarded
to the Adjutant General copies of the re-
port of sanitary measures taken in the de-
partments of Santa Clara and Matanzas.
Major ]. H. Hysell, chief surgeon of the
department of Santa Clara, in a report
dated at Cienfuegos February 26, says:
Since the departure of the Spanish
troops, February 9. there have been en-
ployed in cleaning up the different hos
pitfalls and barracks about one thousand
men. mostly members of the late insurgent
army The cities of this province were in
a dirty and filthy condition when the troops
arrived, and il has required large amount
of labor and money to place them in
good sanitary condition.
There had been seven cases OF yellow
fever among the troops al Sancti Spiritus,
with one death. The source of the infec-
ton 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.
Lieut.. Col. Timothy E Wilcox, chief sur
geon of the Department of Matanzas, re-
ports under date of March that he visited
thirteen towns in the department. and says
that the rations and medical supplies have
been distributed in these places and great
ly relieved the suffering. The condition of
the people has greatly improved. Those
who have sufficiently recovered from star
vation and sickness have gone TO work.
The reconcentrados have gone back to the
country when able but many are obliged
TO return for rations, food being yet unob-
tainable in sufficient quantities to sustain
them.
Assistance will be required for nearly
two months longer. Deaths from star
walton have ceased to occur, the people are
cheerful and hopeful. One sees smiling
faces and hears laughter and singing. The
horrible pictures which were in evidence
in January are for the most part wanting,
although anemia and debility from malar-
ial diseases are still present. One report
gave $50 deaths during the year and
twenty-four births during the same period.
1t was found that canned tomatoes were
not desirable and it was recommended that
an equivalent of rice be added TO that al
ready allowed.
The limit of safety for unacclimated
troops in this province is May l. After
that date Paldual fevers as well as yellow
fever may be expected This is the opin-
ion of medical men throughout the prov
ince. Schools were found in operation and
apparently well attended
Major E. F. Taggart, chief commissary
of the department of MatanZas. says there
can be no doubt about the wisdom of hav-
ing furnished assistance to the destitute.
The conditions were such that if food had
not been furnished 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 mistake because those who are
fed will not work. ! am convinced that no
rations are being issued to those who can
work and that a continuation of the 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 i'm
proved conditions all over the province
one-thrd of those who received rations
the past month are able to provide for
themselves now"