Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-01-21
NUMBER 10.
SANITATION IN CUBA.
surgeon-General sternberg Reports yer,
Little Sickness Now, But Has Serious
Apprehension for the SickIy Season.


Washington Jan. 17.-Surgeon-Gen- II.
eral Sternberg has just returned to
Washington from inspection of the
United States military camps in Cuba.
His purpose was to nee that every ar
Iangenent is made for the protection
Of the health of our troops garrisoning
the island before the expiration of the
present dry season. He summed up
the results of his trip as follows: =.
81 find the sanitary condition OF
troops now stationed IN and near ila-
vana, Matanlas and PiDar del Rio to
be very good at present. There is very
little serious sickness, but medical Of
ticers generally apprehend that there
will be a very considerable increase III
the amount Of sickness as the un-
healthy season approaches, and siren
uous efforts are being made to prepare
for large number CT sick III case the
military situation makes it necessary
to retain n considerable body of troops
in Cuba during the summer months.
At Havana orders have been given for
the preparation Of the Spanish hos
piial Alfonso MIL, which has capac-
ity Of 1000 beds; also for an officers
hospital at Nedado. and for another
hospital for infectious diseases. ~
Mantanzas the military hospital and
barracks. which are substantial stone
buildings well adapted to the climate.
are being thoroughly disinfected and
prepared for the Use of our troops.
In the meantime suburban villa, adj
mirably adapted to the purpose. is be-
ing prepared for use as n hospital. The
troops in the vicinity or Matanzas are
encamped on high ground overlooking
the bay, in a location which consider
quite favorable from sanitary point
OF view The camps at Marianao are
we'll located. and every effort il being
made to preserve the health OF the
troops. i
"In Havana Gen. Ludlow is exhibit
ing great energy in organizing the
civil government ard in preparing 10
carry out necessary sanitary measures.
| The sanitary regeneration of Havana
| is, however. a difficult problem and
one which will require time as well as
money and energy. | consider it en-
tirely impracticable to place this city
| in such condition that it will be safe
for non-acclimuted persons TO remain
there during the coming summer with
cut serious risk. especially if they fire.
quent the more unhealthy parts Of
the CITY. Occasional eases of yellow
fever occur in this city throughout the
winter months. but the epidemic pre-
valence of this disease does not usual
| " commence before the month OF May.
and the extent Of an epidemic depends
entirely upon the number OF unaccli-
mated strangers exposed in the ih-
fected localities during the unhealthy
season. Yellow fever is epidemic at
| Havana. Matanzas, Cardenas, tientuc'
gos. Trinidad and various other sea
port cities. 1t occasionally prevails at
| Puerto Principe, lIolguin. Pinar del
| Rio. Remedies and several other in
| terror towns"
The colossal task OF putting into
proper sanitary condition every dwell
ing in Havana began yesterday. SUR
geon-Gencral Davis hiring 100 resident
physicians for housc-to-house inspec-
tion to compel obedience to the new
regulations. All cesspools undef
| houses are 20 be closed and scaled,
Garbage is to be removed daily. II is
expected that the city will be in Il
fairly sanitary condition within three
months. without underground sewer
age. The old residents regard the new
health regulations as unnecessary and
| meddleSome and even some well-to-do
| and well-informed persons when max
ing their objections describe them
selves as healthy enough To-day Il
thousand people are engaged in the
work of cleaning the streets and pub
| lie buildings,