Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-29
SOME FACTS Asour FEVER.

touch upon many things that concern
all householders aud citizens.
The new theory concerning the dissem-
nation OF yellow fever germs by reason
OF mosquitoes is fully elaborated I'm No.
1s5-as explained BY Entomologist How
! ard.
He says: THE cause of yellow fever
has always been a mystery. and indeed
Il is a mystery today. in a measure. since
although undoubtedly disease of para
site origin the parasite organism Itself
has not yet been discovered. During the
summer and autumn OF 1900. and the
spring and summer OF 1901, the work of
a commission Of surgeons OF the United
States army has demonstrated I'm Cuba.
| beyond the slightest possible doubt, that
| yellow fever Is not conveyed by infected
clothing OF yellow fever patients or by
contact with such patients or by prox-
unity TO them. but that II is conveyed
by the bite OF certain species Of mos
/ quito. which abOunds in regions where
| yellow fever is possible.
The bite OF this mosquito. however.
does not convey yellow fever TO a healthy
person until twelve days have elapsed
| from the time when the same mosquito
has bitten a person suffering from the
| disease"
Therefore yellow fever patients who are
screened from possible mosquito bites
viii not impart the disease to others.
II also follows that when healthy peo-
| pie are screened from infected mosque
toes. they can be kept free from the dis
ease And it follows still further. that
by remedial measures looking to the de-
struction of mosquitoes in all stages we
may reduce TO a minimum. the OppOrtu-
mites for the transfer or spread OF the
disease.
The results of these precautions in Gu
ba have been most gratifying The health
OF Havana has constantly improved.
While October has always been the fatal
month with yellow fever in Havana, there
was not a single case OF yellow fever
during October. 1901, while the average
number OF deaths in ten previous octo-
bers had been e6.27.
This discovery may soon change all
quarantine methods in the United States.
and it is reasonably sure that gulf cities
viii not be again desoIated by the ravages
of yellow fever as in times past. and tha
citizens viii have no reason TO dread
| yellow fever outbreaks, with enormous
financial loss and ravages.
Typhoid fever is set down as a country
disease, and all malaria may be termed
a country disease. because malaria in
cities is only found in suburbs, where
missma. marshes and wet places exist
| The entomologist emphasizes the Poto-
mac fats and the prevailing south winds
which carry the malaria across the city
after night-as an exemplihcation Of this
truth.
In the hot summer months the city Is
almost torrid in its temperature. and the
residents seek a southern exposure to
catch these prevailing night breezes
which nevertheless gather in the steam
and stenches which arise from these
marshy grounds and muddy fats. The
drinking water does not come from the
same muddy place. however. and the san
itary arrangements of Washington are
first class.
In the country sanitation is more diff
cult to arrange for. and immunity from
malaria and typhoid diseases depends
largely upon the individual householder.
The old idea that malaria is caused by
breathing the miasma of the swamps has
been exploded. declares Entomologist
Howard. He says malaria is contracted
through the bites Of mosquitoes of the
genus anopheles. When the blood of a
human being is sucked into the stomach
of these mosquitoes, the malarial para
site gives birth to a large number of
minute spindle-shaped cells. known as
blasts, which enter the salivary glands
of the insect and are injected with the
poison into the system Of the next per-
son bitten by a mosquito. In this way
malaria enters the system.
Not all mosquitoes are malarious. The
great majority are harmless. except that
they puncture the skin and annoy their
victims. There are said to be three spe-
cies of malarial mosquitoes. Two are
found all over the United States. but the
third is largely confined to the southern
states. The 'wiggles," which are found
in horse troughs and rain barrels are
comparatively harmless. but the malarial
mosquito is found in stagnant ditch wa
ter. in beds Of old canals and stiIl water
around springs.
All such breeding places should be filed
up with earth or drained until dry. The
mosquito viii leave II film of kerosene
oil is spread over the stagnant water.
Persons wishing TO avoid malaria should
not SIT out Of doors. exposed to mosquito
bites. at night. Persons having malaria
should be carefully screened at night to
prevent them from being bitten by mos
quitoes. which would then carry the dis
ease to others. ouinine is the specific for
Il chills.
/ The principal agent among insects for
the spread Of typhoid fever is the common
/ house fly. Their number is only limited
by breeding opportunities. Excremental
deposits are the fayorite breeding places.
There are two remedies. proper care of ex-
creta and the destruction of flies. Eye
diseases are often carried by horse flies.
Texas fever in cattle is caused by tick.
Anthrax is caused by gadfiies.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
II T. IL