River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-08-31
MAY OH Am swamps.

May Oil All SwampS.
Whether any plan may be found for
rendering the great swamps to the
southeast and south of this city unde-
sirable places as breeding grounds for
the countless myriads of mosquitoes
that swarm into our streets and homes
and business houses when the wind is
blowing inland must be considered one
of the greatest problems that New Or
leans and the state of Louisiana will
nave to deal with in the near future.
Outsiders may consider that we are
never immune so long as we are ex-
posed to these two things-the capri
ciousness of the winds of heaven and
the fecundity of the mosquito tribe
that domiciles in the irreclaimable
sWamps OF our coast. But our case
nevertheless, is not hopeless. This
great state will find way to meet all
difficulties. 1t is rich enough and en-
terprising enough to oil all the swamps
OF our coast every year and it may do
that very thing if this years test of
the mosquito theory proves its en-
tire correctness.
Federal Government in Charge.
In response to the appeal of the city
or New Orleans, the federal govern
ment promptly took charge of the fight
against the yellow sever, and Surgeon
General Walter Weyman, head of the
United States marine hospital service.
and his splendid corps Of trained help
ers, are waging battle royal day and
night to stamp out the scOurge. The
city authorities are lending the hearth
est cooperation and the defense fund of
Sl5O,OOO asked by the government to
extermlnate the disease has been
raised.
Though generally people are willing
to submit to the regulations of the
health authorities, there are some who
refuse to believe in the mosquito
theory and wnc oppose the oiling of
their cisterns and the cleansing of
their premises. The Era club members.
who are women. have Volunteered to
proselyte among this class of the COM
munity.
There is mosquito ordinance that
requires landlords to screen cisterns.
Fine or Imprisonment is the penalty
for refusal to obey the ordinance. Very
few houses in the city are without els
terms, and 10000 to $4,000 of them will
be screened. The city is now spending
$16,000,000 upon water and sewerage
system which, when completed. will
require the Abandonment of all els
terms. 1t will. however, be two or
three years before this system is in
operation and Ill the interval the oil
ing and screening process will be es-
sential if the breeding places of the
fever-bearing mosquito are to be
wiped out.
Famous Investigation in Havana.
The famous investigation made in
Havana in 1900 and 1901 by the Ameri-
can military commission, composed of
Maj. w. Reed, NJ. d., and Drs. J. Car
roll, A. Argamonte and Jesse w. La
GEAR, established the mosquito theory
of the origin Of yellow fever beyond
all question and paved the way to the
emancipation of Havana from a dis
ease which had prevailed there for a
century and half. In these expert
ments Maj. Reed. with other officers
and priyates OF the United States
army. risked their lives in the demon
stration. Assistant Surgeon Jesse w.
Lazear lost his life in the attempt.
When Dr. Lazear, who was one, of
the three volunteers who offered them
selves in Havana for the first tests in
the yellow fever experiments, took the
fever and died as direct result of the
experiment., his name and fame were
heralded abroad A monument was
erected to his memory at the Johns
Hopkins university, of which he was
a graduate. Every medical journal in
the world contained extensive accounts
of his sacrifice. This was all very
right and proper. for the intrepid ply
stefan literally gave up his life in the
cause of science.
But at the same time there were two
other men who took the same risks.
Their bravery was no less than his.
For none of them could see the end.
One of these other two, Dr. Carroll,
sickened with the dreadful disease. but
recovered. The other, who had been
the first to bare his arm to the bite of
the insect, escaped.
This young man was Dr. A. S. Pinto,
now of Omaha. DR.. Pinto says little of
his brave exploit in offering himself AS
possible victim upon the altar of
science.
The Study of Yellow Fever.
In June, 1900, Maj. Reed was sent to
Cuba as president of board to study
the infectious diseases of the country.
but more especially yellow fever. AS
ISOLATED with him were Acting Assist
ant Surgeons James Carroll, Jesse w.
Lazear and A. Agramonte. At this
time the American authorities in Cuba
had for a year and half endeavored
to diminish the disease and mortality
of the Cuban towns by general sani-
tary work, but while the health of the
population showed distinct improve
ment and the mortality had greatly
diminished, yellow fever apparently
had been entirely unaffected by these
measures. In fact, owing to the large
number of nonjmmune foreigners, the
disease was more frequent than usual
in Havana and in Quemados, near the
camp of American troops, and many
valuable lives of American officers and
soldiers had been lost. Reed was con-
WINGED from the first that general sani-
farv measures alone would not check