The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-12-07

paper Enterprise Association.
copyrighted 1904 by the Newspaper
Enterprise Association.
PANAMA. Dee. The advance
agent ot the Panama canal builder
IL the mosquito rNtrrmluator In
the great American project new AM
der way the problem upon which
depend. succcss ser failure ia enc 81
sanitation and the pesky little mos
quito plays IA leadinK part
D. ". e.. Gorgaa Is leading tho
medical forcra and he is authority
for the statement that the great
element of dauser 20 the men Who
WITH open the vast waterway IA the
mosquito ana this pest can be. and
Is nov. partially eliminated
hr. GarEas has had e. world 81 ex-
pertenee in dealing with the mIas-
matte perils ~ the tropics. Al his
places A. possible have established
a system or quarantine satlsfac-
torily. have educated the natives 90
sleep under nets and have cleared
the blood OF those infected with
malaria. Ne viii have checked the
fever danger Ia the aone.
With the sewerage and water
supply systems the United States Is
Installing in the cities OF Colon and
Panama completed and with the
Panama government working Ia co.
operation with ~ and under our
medical direction. I can 500 no rea-
son why this country will not be as
safe place for Americans employed
on the canal % live and work as
any place in the world
DR.. Gorgas has under his direct
control in the sanitary department
Some SEQ men. Young American
office. IN the canal commission
building IN this city. he discussed at
length the problems with which he
a. dealing with scientific and undef-
standing born Of years ~ research.
Volumes 81 tommyrot have been
circulated In the United States about
the dangers % tina isthmns- he
said The popular belief seems 90
be that death turks in every feet %
ground In Panama To be sure. there
are healthier places. and there are
places on this globe that are much
worse
4 will make the statement. and
my experience here IL the basis for
q. that. with the proper pFneau-
lions taken against the known dan
gers. Temperance IN all habits and
with proper precautions against eN-
posure to this trying climate. . uan
can enjoy a. good health on the
iathmus Of Panama as he can IN
the state % New York.
To hear the talk ia the states,
one would be led 70 believe that this
IL a Vsritabie hotbet Of yellow fever.
The truth IL that since July I.
when took charge Of the sanitary
corps. exactly four cases Of yellow
fever have come under my iuriadic-
ton In the canal zone. Two %
these cases proved fatal. and only
one Of the four patients was an
American. lie was one Cunning
ham. clerk. " no had not taken the
proper precaution against exposure
90 mosquitoes The other three we're
Italian iahorers. and they. toe. had
neglected TO protect themselves.
we are working here upon che
scientific conclusion that through
the mosquito. and only In that way.
Is yellow or malaria fever con-
taxioaa.
I'VE have taken a two-thirds med
Heal census IN the canal zone and We
find that 20 per cent Of the natives
are Infected with malaria fever
parasites. The American govern
ment will treat every one q those
ale -
obiitefsted from their blood. But
this would do no good unless we
fought the iucubators 81 the para
sites. All along the line q the canal
we have open ditehea 90 drain the
stagnated pools where the malaria
mosquito breeds We then set men
at work cutting down the swamp
underground. Everywhere "a the 20
towns under United states lurladic-
zion We issued orders 20 the natives
60 empty rain barrels and all rec
cepfaeles 81 HtaEnant water. for
these are the breeding places Of the
yellow fever Iarva-
Then we compelled the natives
under our control to sleep under
mosquito proof nets and we also
used quantities uf IuhricatinH 81 O.
destroy isrga Oh places where the
water could not be easily drained.
ITO guard against germ Diseases
We have made an effort e. have
tary measures put IN practice which
have long been neglected 70 the
constant menace 70 public health.
'~rhe yellow fever Mesquite.
which must be guarded against
most fizidIy now. can only be exc
terminated through the cooperation
OF the natives. and this we are find
ing . difficult task. They do not
seem % appreciate the Importance
OF our orders. but We are enforcing
them with al the power we have
and hope for better results.
1t IL no theory. but n scientific
conclusion upon which we are work
ing. Beyond peradventure there
must be blood contact before yellow
fever Of malaria Il contagious. The
female yellow fever mosquito. called
scientifically gtegomya.' must take
the blood Of an infected person be-
fore Il holds the poison. Then. be-
fore anyone can become infected.
this mosquito must transfer that
poison BY biting. The mosquito IL
the only carrier. The male does not
bite. but the female must take ami
NAL blood before she can reproduce
her species.
4 believe that when we have
cleared up az many Of the breeding
physicians are stationed an along
the zone line in charge ~ the army
OF fab0rers ditchlnR. cutting brush
and using oil. Posters have been
posted up in public places, inform
Ing the natives Of what ls required
OF them 70 make for public health
and notifying them that the Amer
lean doctors win treat them free
OF charge for any complaint The
poster also requests that every ma
tive take az least three grains 81
quinins each day. Dr. Gorgas says