The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-15
Gru0es Will Marx the ROnk Of
Canal Unless COndih0M Be CHANGED

are of two kinds-the yellow-fever mos
quito and the malarial mosquito. The for
mer works during the early morning and
the late afternoon, and the latter during the
hours of the night To eradicate them the
~swampland must all be drained and level.
and the entire surface of the country
brought under such perfect control that for
a distance of a mile on either side of every
place where people reside there shall be no
stagnant pools. ponds or ~quagmires. The
use of mosquito nets over beds and OF
screens on doors and windows should also
be made compulsory. Rainwater tanks
must. too, all be protected with finest net
ting. BY thus destroying all places where
ne may breed-for mosquitoes cannot travel
more than half a mile from the breeding
spot unless borne by the wind-this pest
and the most fruitful cause of diseases may
be eXterminated.
Under these sanitary improvements and
regulations, with strict police supervision
TO compel decent, moral living, the canal
may be dug at a moderate cost I'm human
life. Certainly it will not be as expensive in
this respect as would an attempt 10 con-
struct il over the N~icaraguan route. The
diseases prevalent here, aside from rheuma-
tism and tuberculosis, which are traceable
TO the native mode or living, are typhoid,
yellow and pernicious Cor malariaD fevers,
smallpox, with some leproSy, and among
the natives beri-beTL Beri-beri is a disease
which sometimes causes wasting away and
sometimes creates a dropsical condition IN
the limbs, in that respect resembling ele-
phantasis. 1t is a trouble which must DO
treated specifically. All the other diseases
common TO the isthmus can be controlled in
the main by the institution Of such sanitary
measures as / have enumerated.
PANAMA SUPERIOR TO NICARAGUA.
This would not be the case with a canal
over the Nicaraguan route. 1t is the COM
mon experience that extensive excavation
in new tropical countries. where the soil is
damp perpetually and the vegetation excess
sive, invariably results in sickness which no
ordinary measures can control, and in an
M
tanned Jungle. and IN attempting 10 dig a
canal by that route we should have to con-
tend against those effects Of first operations
effects from which there Is no escape. The
simple process Of stirring UP the surface
there. would prove a most deadly one.
whereas we shall encounter no such diff
iculty on the isthmus. The French had that
experience, and we shall escape IT, The
ground along the entire route OF the canal
here was subjugated by them. and we need
apprehend none OF the obstacles presented
by absolutely new work in a dank tropical
country. At Nicaragua we should, how
ever. have to face all the trouble the
French originally encountered here-en-
countered at the cost OF thousands OF hu-
man lives.
That we shall have sickness here-and
plenty OF it-when the canal work begins, Is
TO be expected. It's extent may. however. be
limited by applying the necessary measures
for sanitary Improvement before any large
construction forces are brought here. What
advance may be controlled. Proceeding upon
the assumption that 5000 men will be en-
gagged on the work, we may conclude that
10 per cent. of that number, or 2,00O, will all
the time have 10 be carried upon the sick
list. That number will by no means be ex-
cessive, considering the character OF the
work 10 be done.
NECESSARY HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT.
For the accommodation and treatment OF
these 1900 sick an elaborate hospital system
Will be provided. At Colon the railroad now
maintains an admirable hospital, which,
with some slight additions and improve
ments, will easily accommodate 200 patients.
This Will. Of course. become the property os
the United States and will be Immediately
available, as will the magnificent establish
ment erected on the side OF AncOn hill. over
looking the city OF Panama. The French
spent about 100000 on this hospital which
has more than thirty buildings. a perfect
water supply. absolutely perfect drainage.
and which is most admirably located. After
renovation IL viii care for coo patients under
the very best conditions prOcurable here. At
Culebra, on the hills 80 70 90 feet above sea
level. we should establish a hospital, perfect
IN all its details, with a capacity FOR not
less than 700 patients.
''Taboga island. a high and extensive
tract OF land lying several miles out In
Panama bay. has the most ~salubrious eli
mate, with less rainfall than mas any other
part Of this country. By some oversight
in the negotiation OF the treaty we failed
10 obtain this island, the republic OF Pam
anna retaining dominion over IL. TabOua
island will. however, be transferred 10 the
United States by means OF subsequent
negotiations or we may take IL under thar
clause of the canal treaty which. besides
the zone and islands specified. grants us
such other territory as we may REQUIRE.
In that event TabOga island will beeosoe
the site Of a couvalcsccnt HOSPITAL To- a.
commodate 800 patients-a purpose fo-
which IL IL most admirably adapted. That
Will, / believe. give Us all the hospifal
equipment We shall need. With this eduip-
ment in charge Of experts. as certainly liz
viii be, and with the isthmus brought To n
proper sanitary condition there is no rea-
son why the work OF digging the canal ~
this route should exact any unusual pen
atty in human life"
MERRILL A. TEAGITE