The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1901-05-08
MOSQUITOES AND YELLOW FE-
YER.

concessions of Surgeon General Stern
berg to the theory of mosquitoes as
transmitters of yellow fever. The &C
ceptance of the same by this distin-
guished officer and bacteria scientist
was declared in his address before the
Social Science Association. This has
been succeeded by his endorsement OF
a circular upon yellow fever treatment
by Chief Surgeon Howard, of Havana.
The endorsement of the Surgeon Cen
eral is thus stated: ain my opinion the
present state of our knowledge fully
justifies the publication of this circu-
lar"
The circular in question embraces
specific instructions to all United
States medical officials, in yellow fever
treatment. It's purport and purpose
are indicated in a PREDATORY reference
to the recent Havana mosquito expert
ments, which are claimed as "having
proved that yellow fever. like malarial
fever, is conveyed chiefly, and probably
exclusively, by the bite of infected mos
quitoes, important changes in the
measures used for the prevention and
treatment of this disease have become
necessary"
The changes in prevention and
treatment" are radical and revolution
airy of the yellow fever theories and
methods of the state boards of health
and the marine hospital service, of re-
cent years. First, liberal use of coal
oil on mosquito hatcheries is ordered
Here we quote from the circular:
$50 far as yellow fever is concerned
infection of a room or building simply
means that it contains infected mos.
quitoes is, mosquitoes which
have fed on yellow fever patients. Dis
infection, therefore, means the EN-
ployment OF measures aimed at the
destruction of these mosquitoes. The
most effective of these measures is
fumigation, either with sulphur, for
maldehyde, or insect powder. The
fumes of sulphur are the quickest and
the most effective insecticide, but are
otherwise objectionable. Tornado
hyde gas is quite effected if the infect.
ed rooms are kept closed and sealed
for two or three hours. The smoke OF
insect powder has also been proved
useful; it readily stupeties mosquitoes
which drop TO the floor and can then
be easily destroyed.
"rhe washing of walls, Hoors, ceilings
and furniture with dislnfectants Is un
necessary.
"As it has been demonstrated that
yellow fever cannot be conveyed by
fometiss. such as bedding, clothing, eff
fects and baggage, they need not be
subject to any special disinfection
Care should be taken, however, not tC
! remove them from the infected ROOMS
until after formaldehyde fumigation
so that they may not harbor any in
! fected mosquitoes.
medical officers taking ca4s Of vel
low fever patients need not be isolated
| they can attend other patients and as
sociate with non immunes with perfect
safety to the garrison. Nurses and at
| PENDANTS taking care OF yellow fever
patients should remain isolated. SO as
to avoid any possible danger Of their
! conveying mosquitoes from patients &c
non immunss,
This is sweeping aud absolute re
pudiation and condemnation OF the
costly, demoralizing, tyranical and ut
terly irrational measures in vogue fol-
prevention of yellow fever spread
Upon the authority Ct scientific tests
the quarantine of persons, 0onmerct
and mails that has tied up trade, trave
and all social intercourse in the Soutf
in recent years, is fslagated to place
with other relics of barbafisa, Thai
medical practitioners generally will ae
cept the edict of science cannot be
doubted Ignorance and bigotry may
contend for awhile, for survival of the
shotgun quara milne, against the mos
quito. But common sense, with the
backing of authority, is sure to win
This circular furthermore declares
that "malarial fever is communicated
by mosquitoes and requires the same
protection measure
This circular further says that mos
quito infection is most liable in The
early stage of the feVer-that light
cases are probably most apt to spread
the disease and, therefore, all cases
should be isolated behind mosquito
bars. Direction for detentions and
quarantine are as follows:
Each post shall have a detention
ward for the admission of all fever
cases, and an isolation ward for the
treatment of cases which prove to be
yellow fever. Each ward shall be
made mosquito proof by wire netting
over doors and windows, a ceiling of
wire netting at a height of seven feet
above the floor, and mosquito bars over
the beds. There should be no place in
it where mosquitoes can seek refuge,
not readily accessible to the nurse.
Both wards can be in the same build
ing. provided they are separated by a
mosquito tight partition,
"All persons coming from. an infect
ed locality to post shall be kept upon
careful observation until the compile
ton of five days from the time of the
possible infection, either in special
detention camp or in their own quar-
tiers; in either case their temperature
should be taken twice d day during
their period of observation, so that
those who develop yellow fever may be
placed under treatment at the very in
ception of the disease"