New-York tribune., 1902-05-20
SANITARY NEEDS or H4RTIyTQUF.


Some of the dispatches which have been re-
ceived from the West Indies within the last
few days have expressed the fear that the large
number Of dead bodies exposed to the elements
in Martinique just now may breed a pestilence.
Similar apprehensions We're entertained i'm
mediately after the Johnstown and Galveston
floods whose victims were numerous that
immediate burial was impractcable 1t Is
natural that they should he cherished now. so
depressing would be the influence Of such an
outbreak on the business OF the island and its
neighbors that the extent OF the danger
and the best mode OF meeting it deserve
prompt consideration This they have received
from Dr. George A. SOper. in this week $ Med
ical News" The value OF his opinions may be
judged from the fact that he had charge OF the
disposal Of the dead at Galveston at time
when that city lost about ten thousand Of its
residents inside of two or three days The pub
lication is particularly timely.
Or. Soper refers at the outset to the modern
theory which imputes diseases like the bubonic
plague smallpox and typhoid fever 10 microbes.
This doctrine is so we'll established in regard
TO some maladies. whose specific germs can be
isolated and identified. that IT seems TO be ap-
plicable also TO those whose active agent is not
yet known. He feels warranted in saying
therefore that the decomposition of presumably
healthy bodies is not likely to produce any
physical disorder directly, except a compara-
lively harmless arrangement Of the intestnes.
The assurance will occasion some surprise out
side the medical profession, perhaps. but 1t
is based on experience at Galveston one can
safely reject IT,
There are other sources of peril, however
While DR. Soper does not anticipate an epidemic
from the particular cause just mentioned. he
hpIi ba ms byo oth
lead to virtually the same result Martinique
has never hcen a distinctively healthy place to
live in. II has suffered more or less from ma
laria and dysentery for years. Not only has
yellow fever prevailed to an alarming extent
more than n score Of times i'm the last two cen
turies, but it is doubtful whether it is ever com
pletely suppressed there Still, even if no cases
exist in Martinique just now, it is liable to be
imported at any moment. To this and other
maladies the people will he rendered more than
usually susceptible by the debilita ting effect of
hunger, panic. expulsion from home and con
greGatiOn in camps Of refuge. \ combination
of circumstances exists, therefore, which would
promote the rapid spread of the plague, yellow
fever, typhoid fever or smallpox if the disease
once obtained n fair start.
In a crisis like the present one the first great
requirement is food This is being supplied
with gratifying celebrity and in abundance DIR.
Soper thinks that good sense has been shown
In the choice of the ratons sent from the
United States, although he recommends the ad-
dition of condensed milk to future supplies.
The next great need is for diSinfcctants,
cerniDg which number Of useful suggestions
are offered. Burning of the dead is pronounced
unnecessary. Burial, at II depth of six feet and
as far away from wells as possible, is re-
garded preferable. The utmost pains should be
taken 10 guard the purity Of water used for
drinking. Other evil consequences than an cpl
demic of typhoid fever are to he anticipated
from neglect Of that precaution. In view of
the active participation Of the mosquito in dis
semnating yellow fever, DIR. SOper would wage
merciless upon that insect, if it be found
practicable to do He has misSivings on
that point however, and advises, rs the next
best thing, the exercise of special care In the
selection Of sites for shelter camps. He would
place all refugees on the windward side of the
pools IN which mosquitoes are likely to breed
and on high ground.
This and other administrative details, of
course. must be left to the French colonial au-
thorities, but Americans may possibly he able
TO exeS,see some iIauence in the NATTER In