The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-15

! Evidently Mayor Myers does not ac-
cept the mosquito theory of the spread
! of yellow fever. 1t will be recalled
that a board of yellow fever experts
spent a good deal of time and money in
Cuba last year trying to discover the
means by which yellow fever was
spread. 1t came to the conclusion that
the fever poison or germ was carried
by mosquitoes, and that there was no
longer any need for disinfecting ships
or clothing or for taking any other pre-
caution against the disease, except, as
already stated, to provide against con-
dtions which produce the yellow fever
germ bearing mosquito, and to take
precautions against that mosquito.
But Mayor Myers is not alone in le-
fusing to accept the mosquito theory.
1t is safe to say that the number that
does accept it is very small. The dam
ger to this port and to other ports on
the South Atlantic and Gulf coast that
Mayor Myers points out, because of the
passing of the government into the
hands of Cuba. is real, and should have
the immediate attention of all of the
members of Congress from the South
Atlantic and Gulf states.
The Cubans have little or no fear of
yellow fever, and it is not reasonable
to suppose that they will take as great
sanitary precautions to prevent out
breaks of the disease in Havana and
other parts of their island as the Amer
lean health authorities have since the
United States have been in control of
Cuba Indeed, it is doubtful if they
will take any precautions. In that case
it will not be long before Havana will
again be a source of yellow fever in
lection.
The statement of the Mayor that be-
fore the Spanish American war it was
urged as one of the reasons why we
should drive the Spaniards out of Cuba
that we could then clean up Havana,
and thus put a stop to the spread of
yellow fever from that point, is a
timely one, and his question, what shall
we have gained from the health point
of view if we turn the control of the
ledlLI HdIlGiS III IlaNdild ONEI " lllC
Cubans by our expenditure of life and
treasure for Cuban independence?
ought to arrest the attention of all who
are in the least concerned about having
yellow fever kept out of this country.
Strange as it may appear, not a
single Congressman. so far as we are
aware has given thought to the dan
ger to this country from yellow fever
that win likely exist just as soon as
Cuba is turned over to the Cubans
Congressman are thinking how to get
Cuba's trade. The almighty dollar
and not human life is the first con-
sideration with them. Notwithstand-
ing our boosted civilization we have
not yet got away from the frontier idea
that it is a greater crime to steal a
horse than to murder a man.
Since American occupation of Cuba
Havana has been almost free from
yellow fever, and consequently the
South Atlantic and Gulf ports have had
but little apprehension of the disease.
With Cubans in control of the island
the apprehension will return, and the
demand for rigid quarantine against
Havana will be as great as it ever was.
Our government ought to make some
arrangement by which the United
States would be permitted to remain in
control of quarantine and health mat
tiers at Havana. Otherwise commerce
with that city will be conducted under
many difficulties.