The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-13
CONDITIONS AT PANAMA..
Regulations which DR.. MareOur Thinks
Win Make the Canal Zone Bealthful

regulations Which DIR. MareOur ThinIxl
WIN Mako the Canal Zone Healthful.
MOBILE, Ala, Sept Drainage OF the
entire Panama Canal Zone can DO easily
accomplished at very small expense, and
II the laborers to be imported there can be
restrained by health regulations there
need be only the slightest mortality said
DR.. r. o. Marcour. who was here recently.
| Dr. Marcour was a surgeon In the naval
service. He resigned short time ago.
intending to stay at home and build up a
private practice. The Navy Department
offered him a three months leave OF abb
! sence II he would reconsider his decision
and remain In the service. DIR. Marcour.
however, has finally announced that he
has left the navy for good.
He achieved considerable fame by es-
tablishing malaria camp on the Isthmus.
and protecting almost entirely from the
disease the force of 400 marines stationed
on the line Of the Panama Canal at the time.
These marines were sent down In the Dixie
when the Colombian army threatened an
invasion OF Panama, early in January.
There were six medical officers attached
to the brigade. They landed at Colon and
were divided into two parties, being sta
TONED on opposite sides Of the backbone OF
the mountains. The soldiers were all sup
piled with mosquito MEETINGS, but were not
instructed how to use them. As a con-
sequence, malaria attacked the force, the
average for months being five cases day.
Stringent regulations were therefore
issued that the mosquito MEETINGS OYER
the face must be worn night and day, and
careful instructions were given as to proper
protection against mosquitoes. As a con-
sequence, the fever diminished steadily at
the rate OF sixty cases month. It was
found that the swamp camps had a much
greater percentage Of cases than the others.
natives. said DR.. Marcour. "The ordinary
rainwater barrels used by the natives they
were forced to discard, and new barrels
were were supplied by the medical service,
THESE water barrels were covered with
below the mesh to keep the level of the
water too low to be reached by the mos
qultoes. Spigots were also inserted, to
prevent the habit of dipping in for the
water. AS a result, malaria diminished
even among the natives, who are perennially
afflicted.
Another fruitful cause which was abol-
ished was the cutters under the caves OF
houses, which are not made sufficiently
slanting to carry the water off. and oonse-
quentiy breed mosquitoes. The strictest
regulations were issued regarding all these |
things. The results were so remark able |
that Surgeon General Wyman wrote us I
for our method OF treatment, intending |
to follow 1t In all future camps In maiarial /
Il believe, from thorough inveshga-
ton OF the country that the entire tract
can be drained 20 thoroughly as to diminish
the danger OF mosquito infection from the
swamps very materially. further be-
lieye that II the civilian laborers who will
be imported can be made to observe health
regulations, such as wearing mosquito nets
and absolute abstention from drinking, |,
the average health among the laborers
will remain very high.
As precautionary and preliminary
measure before building the canal, be-
lieve the Government should drain the
swamps into the canal. The canal IL already
cut to a certain level, and. indeed, fifteen
years ago 1t was declared open by the en-
fhusiastic engineer the French company
had down there.
AThe only water In 1t, however, comes
rom rains But with this drainage, which
8 perfectly practicable, and with a reduo-
Ion in the duty on quinine, which is pro-
libtve down there. / think health con-
tilons Will be very materially improved
The Canal Zone IL the only place In the
rorId whore the Pacific Ocean Is east OF the
atlantic. The Isthmus makes sharp turn |
o the northward at that point, and the I
'1cifio Ocean follows the hook up inside,
o that Panama, although on the Pacific
cast, is actually to the eastward OF Colon, &
n the Atlantic"