The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-04
CANAL ZONE DEATH RATE LOW
THIS rs Dy'E TO THE GREAT WORK
or SANITATION.


The Mortality in the Inst Three Months
Was Only 10 Per 900, or NJ the Rate
~ 10 Per non for tho Year orks
Under Way 10 Make lsthnius Healthy.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-There Ia a strong
feeling In the War Department and the
Marine Hospital Service that the public
has an exaggerated idea Of the unhealthful
conditions on the Isthmus Of Panama.
The death rate, considering the tropical
climate, Is regarded AZ low. even under
present conditions; the death rate among
canal employees Is remarkably low for
any climate, and 1t Is pointed out that the
great work Of sanitation inaug'irated by
the United States Government authorities
Is only in It's early stages prominent
official in the War Department said to-day:
SANITARY conditions on the Isthmus
are growing better all the time Positive
instructions from Washington and the
disposition OF the authorities In the Canal
Zone are to make health conditions the
first consideration. Digging dirt Is at
present secondary to the task Of producing
ideal sanitary conditions. As matter
Of fact, health conditions, when the records
are examined, are not alarming, but un-
official and untrue statements have created
a feeling OF uneasiness, and this has been
emphasized by the tradition that the 18TH
mus Ia unhealthy.
what is the record7 During the entire
year 1905 the death rate, In spite Of reports
to the contrary. has been kept to remark
ably low percentage The authorities have
the great problem OF sanitation we'll in
hand, and it ia just as certain that they
will make the Canal Zone healthy as 1t is
that American pluck and energy will build
the canal.
A comparison between the conditions
which obtained during the first year Of canal
work under French administration and
present conditions shows that the United
States officials are solving the question
OF sanitation. In 1881 the French reported
an average force Of 92s men on the 18TH
mus, with a death rate Of e6.S per thou
sand, while in the Ancon hospital alone
the deaths from yellow fever reached the
proportion OF ?s.7 per thousand. The
death rate in the Canal Zone among both
the 10000 employees and the uncounted
non-emplosees during the last three months
was only 80 per thousand. counting the
fatalities among both classes and emitting
from the equation number OF non-em-
ployees. This would make an annual
mortality of less than 10 per thousand.
thousand or more: There were but, 20
deaths from fever in the Canal Zone dur
ing May, June and July, and OF this num-
Der only is were employees, an annual
rate of per thousand only.
The number OF cases OF fever, most OF
which recovered. decreased from ~ in
June to % In July, due presumably to the
scientific efforts Of the sanitary officers
in screening, cleaning. draining and taking
such other extraordinary precautions as
were taken in Cuba in 1898 and 1899. The
authorities here say it should be kept in
mind that since De Lesseps's time science
has solved the problem Of checking yellow
fever. The United States, therefore, has
overcome what seemed to be to the French
an unsurmountable obstacle.
cases in what may be considered one OF
the worst months Of the year Is also due
in part to the new water supply for the
city Of Panama. that was first turned into
the mains on July =. With half pressure
were thrown higher than the Administra-
ton Building, and this pure water is now
turned In on several mains through the
center of the city. Faucets have been
attached to the hydrannts and the people e
advantages of this improvement can only
be appreciated, the War Department officers
say, by those who are acquainted with con-
dtions that formerly obtained, and can
scarcely be overestimated,
Another important change that is ex-
pected to addIto the health of the Isthmus
is now we'll under way, and that is the es-
Establishment of comfortable quarters along
the entire line Of the canal. By the end of
the present month every non-immune
employee can be comfortably lodged out
side OF Panama and Colon, which appear
to be the only two foci of the diminishing
fever on the Isthmus.
Plans are also under consideration look
ing to the establishment OF a refrigerating
system, so that meat. vegetables, eggs,
butter. poultry and other food stuffs can
be brought from cold storage In the
United States, transported in cold storage