The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-15

been under strict quarantine for fifteen irys,
so that the possibility of any other cause Of in.
lection was bnovcd. Within the ncriod uf unc'
wcck-frcm Dec. TO Dee. IL. four ot the volun.
tcers who had 'G:Towci themselves to be hittcn
by tho infected mosquitoes developed we'll mari cd
cases Of yellow fever And of tile fourteen non.
immune individuals subjected to the bites of in.
fcctci mosquitoes during the whole test ten con.
tractcd yellow fever, the attack always following
the bites within the pcriod Of incubation Of the
disease
OF the i've individuals who received direct in.
jections of blood from yellow fever patients, four
contracted the disease.
On the other hand, seven ron.inmunc Amrri-
cans who slept every night In the "inicctcd cloth.
ing building" poorly ventilated, and to which
no sunlight ever came, engaged in the morning
in packing boxes with garments much soilcd by
contact with the bodies and excrcta Of yellow
fever patients, and at night unpackng these same
boxes in order to obtain articles for their beds
and clothing for their bodies. Sleeping in the
very beds and garments just vacated by yellow
fever cases, these seven men came out OF this
pest house at the end of the experimnt perfectly
we'll, not enc of them having contracted the
disease
The ''intectad mosquito buldng,' divided into
two compartments by wire screen Partition, was
next used as follows: Fifteen mosquitoes we're
freed ON one side Of the partition and q non.
immune man, Moran. was placed in the room. Tn
the other side OF the partition were two other
non.iminunes. Moran was bitten freely hy the
mosquitoes and developed sharp attack of
yellow fever, while the two ron.immuncs Oh tho
other side OF the screen remained perfectly well
The next experiment was on one OF the non
immunes who had occupied the infected clothing
building for twenty.one nights, and had then
been kept in strict quarantine thirty days longer.
lie visited the mosquito room, was freely bitten,
hale
hours developed a well marked case of yellow
fever
These experiments appear to leave no possible
doubt regarding the ability of the mosquito TO
cause yellow fever, and also point strongly to
the absence Of any infection due to simple cen
tact with yellow fever patients or their c%creti
clothing. If this be true, the elaborate syS-
tenn of quarantine now in vogue against the dis
case and the severe disinftction practced with
quite unnecessary
DR.. A. II. Doty, health officer Of the port of
New York. says:
"1hcse experiments have not conclusively
shown that there may not be some other means
than the mosquito by which yellow fever is
transmitted But when the experiments are con-
sdercd in connection with the results of
practical experience, it is clearly evident that
the disease is not contracted by personal conta-
gion or through the medium OF clothing, bedding,
cargoes OF vessels, etc. Therefore, l believe we
are justified in changing our quarantine rcgula-
tons to conform to these views. and that such
proceeding is just and reasonable, particularly
now have at hand method which. if properly
and scientifically carried out, can be depended
upon to limit the extension OF yellow fever. If
the future shows that there are other means of
infection, it will then be time enough to add
whatever restrictions are necessary to the public
health. I am convinced in following this action
that We are not only Offering full protection to
the public, but extending to commerce q re-
lief from unnecessary and unreasonable leguia
tions."
From the purely scientific well as from the
utilitarian point of view, few achievements in
modern medicine have cqualled in value the re-
suits Of these experiments.