The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-07-31
Theory CONFIRMED
ABOUT MOSQUITO
The Government Is Now Positive
That the Insect Spreads
Yellow Fever.

Washington, D. C.-The United
States marine hospital service has full
lily accepted the mosquito theory of
the transmission of yellow fever and
malaria. Up to 1900 the government
surgeons, as we'll as others, looked
upon yellow fever as a germ disease.
Ind all directed towards the killing OF
supposed germs. Since that time
however, repeated investigations and
prolonged microscopic studies have
convinced the marine hospital sur
5eons that the mosquito Of the IS. ag
omyia fasciata' variety, is the distri
outing agent of this dread disease on
he southern coast of the United
States.
Study of Yellow Fever.
Throughout the past summer a PAL
y Of marine hospital surgeons con-
Quoted a general study of yellow fever
at Vera Cruz, one of the great fever
centers. They report that the fever
carrying mosquito is not a native OF
America, but is frequently imported
with ship cargOes from Mexico and
Central America, and if he finds con
iltlonS suitable, makes his home al
The way from Miami, Fla, to Galves
ton, Tex. There were no breeding
places tor these dangerous mOsQui-
toes in this country until the begin
ming OF settlement along the southern
coast.
An interesting discovery made on
the recent expedition, was that a mos
quito, after biting a person afflicted
with yellow fever, cannot carry the
TO
20 days must elapse before his bite
becomes dangerous. During this peri
Cd the infection which has been alb
sOrbed undergOes a material change
in the mosquito, and at the compile
of this function, his bite is to be
feared.
Hunger for Information.
But the marine hospital surgeons
are not satisfied with their study of
yellow fever; they have not conclud
ed their research. They are deter
mined to know more about the dread
disease. Having more fully eetab
llshed the fact that the disease is
spread only in one way, the surgeons
will hereafter turn their attention to
the study of fever cases, with view
to ascertaining something definite as
to the organism that is the injecting
agent. Some light on this subject has
been CLEANED, but not sufficient to
Justify the PRONUNCIATION Of a substan
tlal theory. Last summers party fire
quently fed mosquitoes on we'll marked
cases, and at various periods the in
sects were killed, and examined under
the microscope, but the results were
not satisfactory, and the study will
be continued.
Sanitary Conditions.
In connection with the report of
their examinations, the surgeons brief
ly describe sanitary conditions in Vera
Cruz, where thousands of deaths have
occurred from yellow fever in times
past. The sewerage system is print
tive. each house having a cesspool.
while all waste water from the patios,
or native houses. is run into an open
gutter in the center of the street, and
slowly towards the gulf
The water supply is keeping with
the sewerage system. Many of the
older houses still retain cisterns. have
barrels in which rain water is stored.
for domestic use. The mosquito. ma
tive of Vera Cruz, finds natural breed
ing places in such containers.
In the past two years, however.
the sanitary condition of Vera Cruz,
the improvements having been in
spired by the work of the Americans
in the various cities of Cuba and Porto
Rico. In another year it is expected
this work Of sanitation will be com
pleted and, with its completion. the
spread of yellow fever is expected to
be diminished.