The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-15
WONDERFUL RESULTS PRODUCED BY
AMERICAN METHODS.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN HAVANA.
of Modern. Methods OF
Sewerage and Street C1eaning-Ex-
perfments I'm Determining the Cause
of Spread of Yellow Fever-A.Certain
Kind or MOSQUITO Said to be the
Means OF Dissemination of this Dis
ease-The Recent Cuban Medical
Congress.
Congress.

washington. March 12.-Dr. Louis II
Debayle. the delegate of Nicaragua and
several other Central American coun-
tries. at the recent Cuban medical con-
gress. is in Washing as the guest of the
N~lcaraguan minister. Senior Corea.
He says the medical delegation re-
Gently assembled in Cuba were impress
ed by the remarkable sanitary inn
provements going on through the en-
terprise of the Americans and particu-
larry by the scientific experiments be-
ing conducted to earn the cause and
to check the progress of yellow fever.
"Th experiments on yellow fever are
being conducted just outside CT Ha-
vana." said he, under conditions which
make most exact results attainable.
Certain apartments are filled with vel
low fever filth of all kinds, with a de-
gree of temperature and an amount Of
moisture exactly similar to the
conditions which breed yellow fe-
yer. Here. animals and in some cases,
medical men, expose themselves with
a view to determining just how far CON
tagion and infection can b. spread un-
der the worst possible conditions. In
other apartments. the best sanitary
conditions prevail, except in the pres
ence Of mosquitoes. confined in jars,
and allowed to circulate through the
o when ar experiment is being
made. 1t has been demonstrated be-
yond a doubt hat these mosquitoes,
when once inoculated with the yellow
fever, communicate by their bites, the
decease, developing in from two to
three daVS In another rom thpra fc
another class of mosquitoes which, by
actual experiment have failed to con-
vey the disease.
In the rooms where yellow fever filth
is located. individuals have lived for
from thirty to fifty days, showing that
there is no danger from this cause.
LAS a result of these American ex-
periments, the delegates to the con-
gress were Of opinion that the assert
ment to the L of yellow fever had
gone beyond the experimental stage,
and that it was now an accepted med
ical fact that a particular class of mos
quitoes conveyed the disease. 1 will
SO report to the governments which ]
represented. I do mo- e to say that
this is absolutely the only way Of COM
municating the disease. but it is GER
tainly proved hat it is the most eff
cient cause Of the spread of the disease
IL yCl1O" lCtCI ouCu d COu.
clusion is not only Of Importance to
Cuba, but to all countries similarly af-
fected, as we'll as the United States and
other adjacent territory likely to be
invaded by such a plague. Already the
American administration has estab-
lished this valuable scientific fact, and
has reaped great practical benefit from
it. There are now not more than four
or five cases of yellow fever in Havana
and at times the number is as low as
two cases. which is an exceptionally
good showing.
"The Americans are to. be c%ongratu-
lated also on the excellent sanitary
conditions throughout Havana. Mod
ern sanitation has been carried into
every house, perfect methods of plumb
ing taking the place of defective and
dangerous old systems. The streets
are kept scruplouhly clean, garbage is
Systematically removed, and not only
the public but all private localities are
kept in the best sanitary condition
This alone speaks much for the bene-
fetal influence which the Americans
have eXerted.
LAS to political conditions, 1 found
the Cubans have a natural aspiration
for self-government. although they are
quite willing to concede guarantees to
the United States which will prevent
foreign aggression. With these views
prevailing there seems to be little detail
to arrange to afford Cub a free gov
eminent and at the same time give just
security to the United States"