Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-11

Gave his Life In Cuba to Forward the Experimentation Con-
Quoted by the Government In the Propagation of
yellow Fever by Mosquitoes

DIR. Jesse w. Lazear gave his life for
humanity in the study of the propaga-
ton Of yellow fever through the agency
of the mosquito. His sacrifice was made
with intent, it might almost be said.
In the course of Investigations conduct
ed in the interests of the United States
government in Cuba, he was one of the
surgeons to study the effects of the
bites OF inoculated mosquitoes. He was
bitten by mosquito that had twice
bitten yellow fever patients. He saw
the insect alight upon his hand. He
watched it settle and insert it's bill into
his flesh. He felt the sting of it's pois-
oned fang and knew that the germ of
the death dealing disease had been i'm
planted in his blood. He was interested
to know the result of that incubation.
So he allowed the insect to satisfy itself
without an attempt to drive it off,
without an effort to nullify the effects of
the bite. He felt the malady lay hold
upon him. He knew the symptoms that
proclaimed it's tightening hold. He still
refused the succor he might have had
to learn the full effects of it's viruent
influence. He learned all in the inter-
ests of science, but. when he would have
checked the progress of the disease he
of his generosity, he died a martyr to
the cause of science. BY his death hui
manity may be saved-not from yellow
fever necessarily, but from the winged
messengers that carry it's deadly venom
~ fight will be waged against these har-
blngers of death and destruction under
the direction of the United States gov
eminent. DR.. LaZear has furnished the
link in the chain of evidence necessary
TO fasten the guilt upon his slayer. By
ms death the warrant for the execution
or the mosquito is furnished and science
VIII now find way to Wreak q Just
vengeance upon the parasite
Dr. Lazear Dis not the only one who
has risked his life in The investigation
still in progress. Eleven have offered
themselves as subjects for experimental
ton. In nine cases CT the eleven the
incubation expected hns not followed.
In two cases it did. but each patient
was lightly attacked by he fever. Both
recovered.
The investigations have taken place
at Columbia barracks, at Quemados,
Cuba, and at Havana. Four surgeons
in the United Sites army have been in
charge of them. DR.. James Carroll and
DIR. A. Agramonte were stationed at
Havana. where they encounter less real
danger. perhaps. than at Quemados. Dr.
Walter Reed and DR.. Jesse w. Lazear
We're at Columbia barracks An epi-
ueific of fever was raging at Quemados
and the latter two We're, therefore, in
the very hotbed Of the contagion.
The method of procedure was simple
DR.. Carlos j. F'inlay, of Havana, had
In 1881 advanced the theory that mos
quitoes propagated yellow fever. DR..
tinlay experimental with the insects
and produced results of value and inter-
est. From him the expedition secured
ovae of the variety of mosquito which
he had useI EEaE were placed in a
basin of water and converted into the
larval stage after a short period. The
larva We're then collected and carefully
observed They We're placed among yell
low fever patients and allowed to absorb
the poison. Each mosquito was marked
according to the violence and duration
OF the fever in the patient bitten. Each
was then allowed to bite one of the
volunteers on whom the operation was
to be tried. AS stated above in nine
OF the eleven cases a negative result was
obtained. probably explained by the
small amount of poison obtained or
transferred by the insect In the other
two cases where illness followed. careful
observations followed. These cases are
fully reported by DR.. Reed.
In the case Of DR.. Lazear. the mos