The times., 1899-07-02
Danger at Havana.

Danger at Havana.
Is it possible that the War Departments
editor is coloring the health re-
ports from Havana?
This is the plain inference from remarks
made by DR.. W. F. Brunner, who has just
the responsible Office of chief of
the Marine Hospital Service at Havana,
and who is talking like an American citi-
zen, now that the military gag has been
removed from his mouth. DR.. Brunner
has returned TO Savannah, Ga, mot favor
ably impressed with the condition of Ha-
vana at this season of the year" The re-
ports that have been sent from the Cuban
metropolis, he says, showing that the city
is in excellent shape SO far as its sani-
tation is concerned, are far from giving
the true state of affairs. Havana is not a
clean city yet by any means, declares DR..
Brenner, and will not be until a more Wig
orous campaign is inaugurated by the
medical department there. The frequent
reference TO the death rate of the city as
compared to that of other years is mani
festly unfair in the experienced judgment
OF DIR. Brunner, for all of the years re-
ferred TO in comparison are those during
which time the island was suffering from
the effects of war. If those who are making
the comparisons would take years further
back than the past four or five they would
find that the death rate was no greater in
time of peace than 1t is today. 1t is good
thing for the Americans. says the doctor,
that the rainy season about Havana is
delayed. AS soon as the rains come the
fever will break out. He does not think
there is any doubt of that.
DR.. Brunner's disclosures contain an ar
raignment of War Department methods
which should be deeply probed into and
radically overhauled. The sanitation of
Havana is directly under the charge OF the
War Office operating through the Medical
Department, of which Surgeon General
Sternberg is the head. II is not at all GER
tain, however, that the Surgeon General
named the officers from his corps to take
charge of the work. In fact, the lack OF
friction between the medical officers and
those of the line at Havana would seem
to indicate that there is good ground for
the belief that about all the Surgeon Gen.
eral had to do with the selections was TO
sign the necessary formal orders for their
detail 1t is not improbable that pets
OF the ruling powers in the War Depart
ment were assigned TO this important work
as similar favoritism has displayed itself
in all other assignments to duty. But as
10 that, future Developments will disclose.
DR.. Brunner is world-famed authority
upon the subject of tropical sanitation. He
is regarded as an expert in the medical
circles of this country and Europe. His
expressed opinion of present conditions at
Havana ought to have weight in inhu
encing the War Department. He declares
that Havana is not clean city yet by any
means land will not be until more Wig
orous campaign is inaugurated by the
medical department there" This is the
implication of an eyewitness that the prop
er intelligence and care have not been
exercised in the sanitation of Havana
More than that, 1t is the opinion of an ex-
pert who does not think there is any doubt
that as soon as the rainy season begins
the fever will break out.
DR.. Drummer has served timely warn
ing on the authorities at Washington of
the danger lurking behind incompetency
and carelessness at Havana. Nearly every
epidemic OF yellow fever that has scourged
our Southern States has had its origin in
Cuba. This is the history of its ravages in
the country. Intercommunication in its
various forms between people in the United
States and Havana is freer and more fire.
! quent this year than ever before. Dan
ger from the yellow fever infection is,
therefore, multiplied at present. And still
We are assured by one of the worlds ac-
knowledged experts that Havana is not q
clean city yet and will not be until more
vigorous campaign is inaugurated by the
medical department there"
The War Departments managing editor
can control news from Havana, but, mighty
man though he be, he will find that he
cannot control yellow fever if II break out
there or is brought here.