The National tribune., 1904-07-07
u. S. TREASURY !. .sRECElPTS.
SANITATING THE ISTnMUS.
The Plans Projected to Avoid the Appalling
Mistakes of Former Operations

Col. NJ. G. Gorgas, Medical Corps, u. s.
A., who will have charge Of the Govern
ment's sanitary work on the Isthmus
writes an exceedingly interesting article for
the Review Of Reviews, in which he says
that the construction Of the Panama Canal
will probably be the largest, most difficult
and most important engineering work ever
done by man. The route of the Canal
runs across the Isthmus from Panama to
Colon, distance of about 80 miles, through
very attractive country, mountainous,
well-drained, and covered with abundant
verdure.
The greatest problems to be solved in the
building of the Canal are those relating to
the sanitary conditions Ever since the
Panama Railroad was first started-5O
years ago-the mortality among the men
employed in the work has been appalling
To avoid the mistakes OF the past. it is
proposed to have a model sanitary depart
territory, under a Government of ample
authority and literally supplied with funds
this ought not to be difficult. From records
obtained from the French hospitals and
Havana. we know that the greatest NOR
tality has resulted from yellow and mala
rial fevers; but so great has been the ad-
vance made In all tropical sanitation, that
those diseases ought to be controlled with
out serious difficulty.
1t is proposed to have quarantine estab-
lishments at Colon and Panama, and a
rigid examination of ali ships arriving at
those ports. If any sick are found, they
are to be instantly isolated and cared for.
There will also be an immigrant station.
similar to that of New York. where all
those excluded who will be burden to the
Government. Dr. Henry II. Carter, who
had charge of similar work in Havana,
will be the head of this department.
In order to remove the prejudice against
hospitals from the minds of the lower
classes and to induce them to 60 to them
for treatment when attacked by yellow
fever and other infectious diseases. large
amount Of money will he spent in equip
ping these buildings with the best modern
improvements. with skilled physicians and
nurses, and in making them as attractive
as possible.
It is obvious to all that if every one
who has even slight attack of fever would
report at once to hospital. the spread of
the disease would be arrested. Fear of the
hospitals was one great reason why the
yellow fever spread so terribly in Havana.
and before anything could be accomplished
in the way of checking the sanitary au-
thorities had to give all their attention to
improving the hospitals, employing the very
best doctors and nurses, and persuading the
people TO 60 into them. Soon they had such
reputation that every case of fever was
reported at once, and the people FASTENED
to put themselves under medical care as
soon as any evidence Of the dread disease
appeared. A marked check in it's progress
was at once observed.
As in the course of about three years
there will probably be a population of
100000 people on the Isthmus. including
the laborers and their families, and as
about 10 per cent. of this number will prob
ably be in the hospitals much of the time,
it is highly important to have the work Of
sanitation begun at once and organized in
the most effective manner possible. To in
sure it's success DIR. Ross, man Of high
executive ability, and the head of the Las
Animas Hospital in Cuba, has been selected
to have this in charge.
Besides the quarantine establishments at
Colon and Panama, health departments
will be organized at those places, which
will inaugurate musketo brigades for the
destruction of the pests, which it is now
believed are the cause of the yellow and
malarial fevers. and to attend the usual
duties of keeping the streets clean. dspos-
ing of garbage, etc. Our treaty with
Panama provides that we shall put both
water and sewer system into Panama and
Colon, and as soon as this is done, of
course, the sanitary condition of these