The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-04

(tiser.)
 Ancon, Canal Zone, Aug. 24.EPan- anna is the gateway of the whole world. to the west coast of America. from San Francisco to Valparaiso. Chile. Pas sengers and freight from the Orient are trans-shipped at San Francisco for points in South America, and again changed at Panama. Passengers and freight from all parts of Europe are brought to Colon by the Royal Mail from England. also the Leyland' the French line from Havre, and the Span | ish line from Barcelona and the Med ] iterranean. The bulk of these pas- sengers cross the Isthmus, and take passage from here to Central Ameri- can and Mexican ports. or to towns on | the west coast of South America l.. Many through passengers from New York to San Francisco. who prefer the sea voyage to the railroad trip. alb the sailing time from New York to Frisco via Panama is one month, also pass through this port. Upwards Of twenty regular steamers call at the ports of Colon and Panama each week. besides ten or a dozen tramps ana costal vessels. There are six lines of steamers that make Colon a regular port of call. with two more projected. ana two IlucS tHdt ehs CHS anna. Its important position in the worlds highway of traffic renders Pan anna one of the most interesting places on the American continent from a quarantine and sanitary standpoint.
 The quarantine department was the first to begin operations in connection with the canal project. In January 1t had a representative on the ground keeping tab on incoming boats, and at the present time the quarantine regu- lations of the United States are in force at both the ports of Ancon and Cristo- bal. All incoming steamers are now boarded immediately after casting an- chur, and subjected to rigid inspection. Close watch Is kept of the passengers. both those that are bound through, and those that remain. AS rule pas sengers bound through have to wait either here, or at Colon. for few days to make their connection. and until the time limit of danger Casually five days) is passed, the strict surveillance is maintained.
 It is a matter of congratulation at the present time that these precautions are In efficient hands. for the bubonic plague which first appeared at Anto- fagasta, Chile, has been gradually ex- tending northward, and a few days ago made It's appearance a Puma. at the mouth of the river leading up to Guay- aauil, the port of Ecuador. Yellow fe- yer is all the time rampant at Guaya- quil, hence the efforts of the Quaran- tine Department may mean much to the welfare of the Americans on the 1sthmus.
 It is definitely settled that the quar- antine station on the Pacific side will be located on Flamenco Island, a small key about a mile out in the bay, while on the mainland nearly opposite will be Il house of detention.
 Some Prevailing Diseases
 Leprosy exists in the city of Panama; in the villages along the line of the Panama 8ailroad to Colon. and in many of the rural districts. There are twenty-two known cases in Pana- ma City. There is collection of shacks on the outskirts, known as the lazaretto. where the lepers may go if they choose to, and be supported by charity, but inasmuch as they are not yet compelled to be isolated cases can be found In all parts of the city, al though naturally in the filthier sec tions. The disease, however. does not select It's victims wholly from the low CT classes, for the son of one of the most wealthy and prominent men in the city fell prey to the slow death" There Is also small colony of lepers on a small key near Taboga Island, twelve miles out in the bay.
 Beriberi Is now a very common dis ease in parts of the Republic, and is always prevalent in this city. Before the year 1897. however, 1t was unknown in this country. In that year, and since then it could be considered as ep- idemic in Colon and Panama, and along the canal route. While this Is a dis- nac duo aly aof t1 toto. unsanitary conditions, some others, and among them whites. are known to have 1t. The disease affects the lower extremities which often swell to an abnormal size, making 1t impossi- ble for the afflicted person to walk A ready cure, however, is found in an ocean voyage, but this. of course, the people of the lower classes where 1t is most found, are unable to make. A young man, known to the writer. had beriberi two years ago. His physician pronounced the case hopeless if he remained in Panama. He resolved on q sea voyage to the north coast of South America, and before he had been out two days all symptoms of the dis ease had disappeared. The malady is often attributed to eating too much rice, and consequently it would be a bad place for our South Carolina friends.
 Smallpox has been epidemic through out the Republic until a few months ago. Now but few cases exist, except in the interior villages, a general free vaccination having bettered this con dition The American Quarantine De- partment has recently issued an order that no one can come within the zone to remain indefinitely without first having been Vaccinated.
 Tuberculosis, dysentery. pernicious malaria and elephantiasis are always present. The humidity of the atmos- phere in the lowlands of the Republic make them an undesirable place of res idence for people affected with lung complaints. Yellow fever Is, of course, more or less always present. but the conditions so far in 1904 have improved greatly over former years. Many cases exist probably that do not come within the range of official knowledge, and hence pass unnotiCed. Malaria Is most prevalent among the Americans at present, and is charged up to the malarial mosquito. About 95 per cent. of the cases at AncOn Hospital at the present time are from malaria.
 A Change of Program.
 An important change has been made in the plans for the water works sys- tenn. As stated in The Advertiser, 1t was originally planned to go to the Juan Dias River for the source of sup plv This is about fifteen miles from Panama, and 1t was found that the ,..ypFTQ a a