Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-04-03
TRANSMITS DISEASE
That Mosquito Carries Yellow Fever
Is an Established Fact.
SurprisinE That the Theory Was Not
Hit Upon Long AEo-ounran-
din. Methods VIII Probably
De Modified.


convincing to the laity. y disease
which caused America many thou
sands of lives and many disturbing
panics i'll the past was stripped %
most of it's horrors II shown to he
n Of the most easily controlled and
protected against. When we read
frum the history of yellow fever the
thousands of theories advanced in re-.
gard to il, the wonde is that the re-
cent discoveries made Of the trans
mission of the disease by mosquitoes
was not stumbled on long ago. says
the New Orleans Times-Dcmocrat.
For years the question whether
quarantine did or did not keep the
fever out Of a country was discussed,
and IT different times the quaram;in.
lists and unti-quarantinists were ION
top The commission appointed in
lSjJ to investigate the epidemic "f
that year was doubtful on mos'
points, and was convinced on only
o-c. that the disturbance of the
earth. excavations during the sum
mcr, tended to cause the spread OF
the disease, and as "A result Of this
report nearly all public improve
mcnts were seriously handicapped.
The rats were looked on with Suspi-
eipn, then filth. dccaying vegetation.
Al excessive rainfall. the water up
ply, and a dozen other causes were
cited for the disease. In many case.
these theories were apparently sup
ported by the prevailing conditions,
ln1T nnnFLur- ,H..r a.. ..rls.sL,-
changed and theories formerly up
held and apparently built upon rock
were completely shattered.
II GEMS strange. considering how
often and how carefully the subject
was investigated, that the recent dis.
Cuvcrics in regard to the mosquito
and yCl!o" fever were not made.
There were some vague hints on this
point, but nothing to attract general
attention or bring ABOUT the accept.
Hncc of the mosquito theory by ply
siciaIs and sauitariaus. Yet as s0on
as this idea was advanced il Was seen
that. alone of all the theories. il
filled every condition of the disease
and explained every apparent pcculi.
arity about it.
The discussion before the Amcri-
can Public Health association fully
confirmed what has already been said
On this subject. The matter j. no
longer u theory. but an established
fact, as thoroughly demonstrated a,
any scientific question has ever been.
Practical experiments made in half
a dozen different localities all
hrnuUh rho NuFn. rn-ptf .,,I ,us.,.
sc"py explained and proved them.
The convention was unanimous on
the point that the mosquito could
and did transmit yellow fever from
II person affected by i; to another.
Doctors from Cuba and MEXICO
agreed with the physicians Of taiS
country. and the evidence wa -
overwhelming that no one who has
investigated the matter can longer
entertain "a dnmbt.
This makes protection against tn"
fever far simpler than we have c,..r
thought it to be, and does away with
the complicated. expensive. and often
brutal quarantine systems which
have frequently been rcsurtcd To in
the past. The humiliation Of the
mosquitoes in n community would rs.
sure il complete immunity il musuui-
toes arc the sole means Of transmit.
ting The disease: or il this annihila.
ton he impossible, an ordinary mos.
quito hnr for the person sick Of vel.
low fever. so as To prevent the mos.
quit"es from getting at him. and thu,
becoming infected and the source Of
danger I" others, is the simple pro.
lection needed.
Ii will hc noted that on one point
tho members uf the association were
not fully agreed. All accepted thr
m"STIit" theory. that the inscc.
could transmit, yellow fever. \ ma-
jority were Of the opinion tim, the
disease was transmitted only H. this
waF. hUt the minority. while unable
I" pr"duc" any very strong evidence
{" th" contrary. refused to ACCEPT
that proposition and favored ia"
Scotch verdict. "Nut proven" In
other words, while the evidence x
strongly and. indeed. ~c"uviuciugIy n
favor "f the mosquito theory. i, dp,r
not prove that the disease cannot n.
rr"pagnt"d by f"mitcs or in other
way.
T" II lay mind this ]cunclus na
seems 10 be n prudent II not II or.
rect one. II j. not pretended tia
the mosquito creates or g"uCr tea
the di"rugr hut tim"lv ihns II irrr..
miis II from ur" person Ia annil -.
The origin al The Ic,rr *. Therefore,
due T." ."rr oi'r" cause. and Il WON