The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-18
DISCUSSED YELLOW FEVER
Surgeon General Sternberg Ad-
dresses Social Scientists.
A Disease of Seaport Citics-Not Due
to Climatic Conditions. But to the
Mosquito-Wbat Experiments Have
Developed - other Papers Read.

Yellow fever. the reason for its being
contagious, with special reference to inyes-
legations recently conducted in Cuba, was
the main subject of the meeting of the
Social Science Association last night. Sur
geon General Sternberg discussed the sub
ject at length. The title of his lecture was
The Transmission of Yellow Fever by the
Mosquito
In his preliminary remarks General
Sternberg said that the origin of yellow
fever IS not known. but that it is supposed
TO have come from Africa. Even In the
West Indies, where 1t is found so preva-
lent now, il has been introduced, he said.
and long periods of immunity in those
places. lasting a century, are recorded. He
thought this proof that the disease did not
depend upon climatic conditions. 1t was
a disease of seaport cities, he said, because
II was a disease of low levels. Cases
which developed in high attitudes from in
fection at low levels. he said. proved not to
be infectious. This he considered proof
that 1t is not directly communicated by
the sick to the we'll.
There is abundant proof of this, he
said. 1T is also to be shown that heat
and moisture are needed to develop the
disease. II is prevalent only in summer.
Ships arriving at port bring it, and the
area of infection gradually expands. The
propagation of the disease. because of
these conflicting facts, has been a mys-
terry
THE problem was at first attacked at
the wrong end. Much time. ingenuity,
and money were expended by bacteriol-
ogists without success. Microbes were
rarely found, yet everyone was hunting
for bacteria. We now know some dis
eases are due to protozoa-as malaria
quite a different germ, and it has been
shown that malaria is propagated by
mosquito bites.
Fifteen years ago DIR. Finlay, of Ha-
vana, advfnced the theory that yellow
fever is transmitted by the mosquito. and
he quoted the conditions l have men
toned above as proof, but his expert
ments did not go far enough. His evil
dence as given in his report was rather
unsatisfactory. He claimed only one
definite case of yellow fever out of eighty
seven inoculations. When a board was
sent to Cuba. however last year to look
into yellow fever it was suggested that
Finlays theory be given consideration.
THE first experiments We're made upon
members of the board, DR.. Carol and DIR.
I.azear inoculated themselves with in
case, and DR. Lazear died as the result
of an inoculation in yellow fever dead
house In the autumn DR.. Reed UNDER
took a series of experiments. which re-
suited most brilliantly. In an isolated
station he inocuiated a large number of
volunteers. The outcome was satisfactory
and conclusive OF the number expert
mented on 50 per cent developed the dis
case These people were isolated in the
station a long time to make sure the dis
ease developed only from the inocula-
ton. Ii was discovered that only after
the mosquito has been kept twelve days
will it give the disease. This was the rea-
son of DR.. Reeds success, and DIR. Fin
lays failure.
THE mosquito, Culex fasciatus, serves
as the intermediate host in the transmits
sion Of the disease That is the decision OF
Drs. Carol, Reed, and Agramonte. They
found also that incubation by blood
taken from a patient in the second or
third day of the disease would produce
a mild case. The germ has not been found
and we have decided that it is ultra mi
crC5copic.
The period of incubation is found to
De from forty hours TO five days The
disease is not transmitted by clothing. and
this was proven by the fact that the ex-
perimenters wore clothes and slept in
beds of yellow fever patients yet did not
get the disease.
Because of these conclusions the
method of fighting yellow fever will have
TO be altered, and it is possible that the
system cf quarantine now in use, and con-
sidered 90 obnoxious. will be changed ="
DR.. Elmer Lees paper on Food as the
Principal Factor in the Cause of Disease
was read by Secretary +. S. Root. The
paper stated that the habit of evereating
began early in life through parental in
through weakness of the individual and
inability to resist the pleasures of the
board. The only admissible theory of the
great prevalence OF diseases the paper
stated. is that ii is attributable in a great
measure to letting in under-prepared food
10 the stomach. All systems of medicine
are as nothing when not backed up by
a proper method of feeding the body
The papers read at the meeting of the
association yesterday morning were on
subjects relating to health. The first
was by John II. Patterson, President
of the National Cash Register Company,
of Dayton. Ohio. He stated that the
scheme which he had put into effect was
not Ctopian or merely philanthropic, but
was based on the fact established by ex-
perience. that the better the surroundings
of working people the better the work
they can do. The first move was to
beautify the park surrounding his works,
and this was naturally followed by beau
tihcation of the plots around the houses
OF the employees The. interior of the fac
tory was then painted in cheerful col
or. extra windows We're made to give
light. forced ventilation to afford plenty
Of fresh air, and ali dust and acid fumes
were carried away by exhaust fans.
Bathrooms and well-furnIshed toilet
rooms continued Mr. Patterson. "are on
all floors. ALI seats have backs. clean
aprons are furnished by the coupany. a
dining-room where hot meals are served
ana curse in domestic economy is con-
dHcted. The dining-room is decorated
with pictures, flags. and plants We have
demonstrated that this system pays the
manufacturer, the employe, and the bIIy-
hn fat ta,I 4, -
the other. and the increased quality of the
product"
DR.. Grace Peckham Murray. of New
York, read paper on Health Fads of
Today" She divided fads into two classes
one affecting the Individual and the 9TH
er affecting the community. Fads on
diet, clothing, and exercise. were, she de-
clareG, legion, and were all predicated up
on the unrestful attitude of the people
and the common realization that health is
OF great Importance.
-of this feeling" the speaker said. ''the
charlatans have taken great advantage
ana nave built up practices for them
selves at the expense of the health of the
public" a
able light Christian Science and mental
healing. II suggested that they should be
properly regulated. as are all other meth
ods OF healing. The history of osteon-
athy and its principles were detailed with
some Of its methods of operation
The speaker declared that the recent
Increase IN contagious diseases in the
large cities was due to the fact that
many cases arc treated by healers who
conceal them. declaring that contagion
is arr possible.
DR. 9. w. Chancellor, OF Washington.
gave his observations on Social Evils
hesuitlng from Unsanitary Dwellings"
lie said he thought that too little science
hAa been directed toward the elevation
81 the lower classes. Thirty-three per
cent OF ali deaths In large cities, he said.
resulted from diseases caused by foul
cir, the effects Of which were TO be seen