The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-23
VITAL STATISTICS FROM CUBA.
Report of Major GorEnS Received by
The Mnr Dcnnrtment.


the War Department.
The War Department has received the
July report of vital statistics of the cities
of Havana, GUanabaCoa. Regla, and Mari
anao submitted 20 General Wood. Militia
~ Governor of Cuba. by Major w. c.
Gorsas. chief sanitary officer. Major Cor
fas says in summarizing his report
During the month 537 deaths occurred
in Havana. As win be seen by table in
body of report. this is the smallest num-
Der OF deaths occurring in July. since 1850.
with the exception Of last July when we
had 51S- The maximum July since the year
1853. was in the year 1898, with 1.532
deaths; the minimum, year 1900. with SIS
deaths. average Sg07- The rate per loo
is only bettored by July OF 1900 This
year we have a death rate Of 2Lg9 then
Of 24SG.
This compares very favorably with
many Of the large cities Of the world
Pittsburg. Pa. with a population Of 352,
000 had for the week ending July 6. 2l3
deaths. giving rate OF 5f.05 per 1000. The
District of Columbia. with a population Of
27S.1IN had for the week ending July 22l
deaths. giving a rate of 4255 per 1.Vlo.
Nashville. Tenn. with a population Of So
500 had 1856 deaths during the month Of
June, rate Of 29.0S per 1000 New York,
for the week ending July s, had 2.757
deaths among a population Of 34Sl,ea2,
making a death rate Of 81 per loo New
Orleans. La. with a population Of ST.
co. for the week ending June g had I42
deaths. a rate Of isis. Mobile. Ala. with
a population Of % 46g. had for the week
ending June % q deaths. giving a death
rate Of 22-45- Liverpool England, with a
MOI rrrr Of ha 81
ending July Il, 81 deaths. giving a death
rate Of $3.50.
These rates are taken from the last
reports furnished by the Marine Hospital
Service and for several of the cities are
much higher than the normal. due 70 the
large number Of cases Of heat-str0ke. Ha-
yana not being subject 20 such excessive
heat does not suffer from this cause
But what ! have been most anxious
over during the month has been the con-
dition Of the city with regard 20 yellow
fever. We make the best record ever be
fore made for July, having had only four
cases and one death. Two OF these cases
Doth of which were reported as 'E0rras'
and one Of which died. occurred in chill
dren Of Cuban parentagc, born in Havana
having lived in this city continuously
since birth. The physicians OF Havana. as
a body. do not recognize this disease as
being yellow fever, and indeed. both in its
symptomatoIosy and pathology, it differs
widely from the disease in the adult. but
the board, 10 which all cases Of yellow
fever are referred. after careful c0usidera-
ton. and in one OF The cases after care
fuI autopsy and astrological examination
Of the organs, concluded that the two
cases were yellow fever. ] mention these
F.s.as ga IA.
fully yellow fever is being reported at this
time
Since tho year 1889 the maximum num-
Der Of deaths ir July. from yellow fever.
has been 1c8, in the We A. 1891 the mini
mum, 2. in the year 1893: the average 7045.
This year. as the report shows We had
one death. But a greater difference stU
viii be shown II we Ia ze the yellow fever
year, which commences April / Taking
these four months from the year 1893 the
maximum number Of deaths from yellow
fever occurred in 1897. with 5W deaths.
the minimum, in 1899, with deaths: an
average Of l4l deaths. This year we had
one death; that is, we have passed one
third Of the year in Havana, including
July, which is generally one Of the severe
months for yellow fever, with only one
death; and this one death would never
before this time, have beeen considered
due 20 yellow fever II was reported by
the physician In charge as Borras.
During the month six known cases
were introduced into the city from san
tiago de las Vegas a little town Of 6l2O
population, situated on the railroad TWEEN
~ kilometres from Havana or this Dop-
ulation, as are non-immunes. most Of
whom work in cigar factories. One case
~ hl.4
into the city from Regla. a small town
directly across the bay from Havana. on
June 20 we had tine first Of these cases.
July 8. the second case, and between July
and "A, five other cases. Since the 18th
we have had no cases here.
In accordance with the directions Of
the adjutant general, a considerable
force was put into Santiago de las Vegas.
and work at once commenced in an en-
deayor to free the town from infection
Our efforts were made entirely i'm the line
Of destroying infected mosquitoes: in thisI
hope we have been successful The focus
Of infection I'm RcgIa WAS treated in the
same way
The fact that we were free from vel
low fever in Havana from May Tin July
!. and that as early as June 20 the first
case Of yellow fever coming from Sauti-
ago de las Vegas was introduced into th,
city. leads me to fear that some uur,cog-
niz,d cases got into the city from these
sources and have infected us But / be-
gin TO feel pretty confident that by our
present methods of disinfecti0u We can
eliminate Infection after il has gotten in.
] ann inclined to think that We have. done
80 at present. We have had no cases
originate A iu the city since July a and
with the $1,000 uOU-immuuss scattered f1
every p-rt Of the city. am sure
that We would have had more case.
unless the Infection had been killed u:r-
uculoTly as II is the month Of AurrTsf
Wht n usually the disease IS In fun blast
he body Of he report shows Tho. LARGO
amount If work done particularly i'm ne
line Of the destruction OF IA. un3squitg
Most Of the time q the department is now
turned 10 this subject. both ia the ar
tempt L. kin all infected MOSQUITOES i'm tba
neighboThOOd Of each focus as IN an
pears, and generally about the city. 70 de-
places"