The evening times., 1900-01-22

based chiefly upon the experience acquired
since the occupation Of Cuba by American
troops. General Wood says:
yellow fever is mostly disease OF sea
coast towns, but may occur In any part
OF the island. especially II previously &C.
cupied by Spanish troops, the latent germs
becoming active under favorable condi-
lions: this is shown by the several cases
occurring at Cristo and Palma soriano.
distant from the coast twelve and thirty
miles. respectively. and about 700 feet
above sea level. The passing OF one or
even several years without any case is 70
guarantee against the subsequent breaking
out Of the disease as was shown at Man
zanillo.
1t is exceedingly probable that the in
fection can be successfully bred In any
town on the island. and that none can
safely dispense with proper quarantine
measures. Yellow fever may occur any
month in the year. and medical officers
should be ready for il at all times. Il Is
rare from November ! 10 June l.. most
frequent in June. July. August. and Sep
tember, August having been the worst
month in Santiago under Spanish regime.
Under American rule. in consequence Of
the system of prompt isolation and disin-
fectiOn which may be expected. June aud
July are more likely TO show the larg ST
number OF cases. az happened In Santiago
This past summer
yellow fever is place disease. and the
first step in the management Of a case
must be the removal. not only Of the pa
tient, but Of all susceptible persons from
the infected place. Public buildings, such
as barracks, hopitaIs prisons. hotels. lods-
ing houses and saloons. are particularly
open 10 suspicion, and, after May /.
should be carefully watched As soon as
one case can be traced with any degree Of
certainty to any such building. prompt
measures are called for. il il occur in bar
racks occupied by Americans or other non
immunes. early and complete evacuation is
The only course TO pursue.
The past summer in Santiago. four com
panies OF the Fifth Infantry. L. s A. left
their infected barracks and went into two
separate camps each Of the two companies.
One camp, pitched two miles away. did not
have any more cases after the first five
days and was never moved again. With
the other camp. three moves were necessd-
~ before the infection had completely dis
appeared; the first move only 100 feet out
side the barracks. 10 apparently clean
grassy ground. was unsuccessful on account
OF faulty disinfection and perhaps the too
close proximity Of the fever foci; the second
move. four miles away, was Immediately
followed by decided results
AT Santiago. where the yellow fever
hospital is on an island. there was also dur
ing the epidemic OF last summer An obser-
walton station on the city side Of the bay
near the landing Of the hospital steam
launch for the observation OF patients and
verihcation Of diagnosis while awaiting
transportation 20 the hospital This sta
tion reduced the Importance OF the deten-
tion camp which vas hardly more than a
place where nOn-immUnes exposed to infec-
tion were kept under watch
Each town where yellow fever is likely
20 occur should have a military sanitary Of
hcer and under him many physicians as
special eXigencies may require. This sani-
tary officer shOulc also have under his con-
troll one or TWO squads OF immune laborers
With intelligent Oyerseers to do all the nee
essary disinfection. one OF more ambu-
lances and one O. more wagons; these vehi-
cles TO be marked with a yellow flag and
used for no other purpose than the carry
ing Of yellow fever patients and infected
effects or furniture There should also be
a disinfecting plant, using both steam and
formaldehyde gas
At Santiago, the medical department.
besides its own plant. more OF less per
fected during the summer. had also the
benefit Of the larger and better equipped
plant OF the Marine Hospital Service which
was put AT its disposal. In most towns il
will be possible for military sanitary on
GERS and the Marine Hospital Service thus
TO cooperate in combating the infection.
When yellow fever breaks out in a
town, the authorities should be at once in
formed and appealed 10, so that all neces-
sary regulations may be strictly enforced
All public places, hotels. lodging houses.
clubs, and saloons, should be promptly
registered tif not already donel and there
after frequently inspected by sanitary ply
sieians- NOn-immunes should not be al
lowed to enter the town except by special
authority. and as many as possible Of those
already in town should be sent to the
country or depOrted- All physicians will
be enioined. under stated penalty, TO re-
port within twelve hours all suspicious
cases under their care TO the sanitary Of
icer; likewise all keepers Of public places
10 report at once all cases Of illness oc-
curing in their establishments.
when case we'll marked or reasona-
bly, suspicious OF yellow fever is reported
and verified, the sanitary officer will take
possession OF the premises and place them
under guard, allowing no one 10 enter or
leave without permission. The patient will
be removed as soon as possible 20 the de-
tentiOn camp or to the hospital by special
ambulance. Very exceptionally, when re-
mOval would obviously endanger life. the
sanitary officer with the sanction of the
chief surgeon may permit the patient to
be kept and treated in stu under suitable
regulations ultil he improves sufficiently
to justify his transfer 10 the hospital Such
a contingency should be avoided by in
sisting on the prompt report OF cases SO
that they may be transferred in the early
stage Of the disease.
when death occurs in the house the
disinfected body will be carried at once
in special ambulance to the burial ground
All inmates Of the house VIII undergo dis
infectiOn-that is. take a sublimate bath
and have their wearing apparel boiled or
subjected to steam or formaldehyde. At the
same time, if possible, all clothing, bed
ding, hangings. carpets, fabrics small and
easily removed articles Of furniture etc,
will be taken out and carried in special
wagon TO the disinfecting plant. In ex-
ceptional cases, where the building per-
mits Of II, the disinfection of clothing
bedding. etc. may be done in the house
isself, If the sanitary officer so decides. by
bUiling and exposure 10 formaldehyde in a
tight room. The house-that IS. all the
walls, roofs (if accessible), ceilings. floors.
and permanent furniture-will then receive
special treatment.
"As most houses in Cuba consist OF sew
eral large rooms without ceilings, freely
opening into each other ar q covered with
- = -.