Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-09
Just What Has Been Done to Clean
Up the Zone and the Cities of
Panama and ColS0

It has been recognized from the start
that our first and paramount duty is to
get the isthmus in a thoroughly sanitary
and healthful condition for the actual task
of making the dirt fly when all the work
of preparation stands completed.
AS a result Of this undertaking policy
by far the greater portion Of the accu-
mulated filth of generations has been re-
moved from the entire canal zone. The
yellow-fever-ger m-bearing mosquito was
pronounced exterminated the first of last
October, only three new cases of yellow
fever occurring during that month, the
worst month of the year for yellow fever,
and those originating many miles from the
line Of the canal and not among canal en-
Qloyes. determined warfare IS being
waged abainst the anopheleS-the mosquito
that carries the germ of malaria and
numerous public improvements that are
also sanitary measures have been COM
p.eted or inaugurated In the various cities,
towns and camps OF the zone.
Ten per cent of the total number of men
employed have been engaged in sanitary
work At present about AGO men are so
employed; no other branch of employment
s. so strong numerically.
Just what has been done In sanitation
Is best revealed, perhaps, by comparing the
respective death rates along the canal
under the French regime and since We
took control
The first year of the French occupation
GSSD the death rate among the average
of 1923 employees was the enormous one
of G6.S per thousand, while at Ancon Hos
pitaI alone the death rate from yellow
fever was 237 per thousand. IN August of
the second year OF the French occupancy
the death rate was liz per thousand among
a force Of 1910 men. During last August
only two of the twelve new cases of yell
low fever occurring among our 1900 en-
pleyes proved fatal, while there were, on
an average, only sol constantly sick, Civ
ing a rate OF less than % per thousand.
,11,ra 50
and Jily, when the yellow fever outbreak
was at it's height. the death rate was the
phenomenaliy low one of 90 per thousand
that is to say, an annual mortality rate
of about 10 per thousand Not many
American cities can boast of SO low a
death rate. According to the census of
1900 New YorSs was 204; Chicago's 1872;
Boston 20.1; st. Louis, 17.9. and New
Orleans, 2S.9-
Wholesale Fumigation and Inspection.
In order to stamp out yellow fever Col.
w c. Gorgas, chief sanitary officer of the
isthmus. has famigated practically every
place of haSitation on the zone at least
once. and many places have been fumigated
repeatedly This famigatlon has even ex-
tended to the churches and cathedrals OF
Panama and Colon. and several times each
city has been fumigated as a unit. Oilers
nave gone up and down through the zone,
destroying the larvae Of the dreaded Ste
sonyia. Swamps near towns and camps
have been drained, the lowest places filled
In, grass and vegetation around the camps
have been Kept cut down. and every device
known 10 sanitary engineering used 10 pre-
vent the mosquito from breeding.
An interesting and concrete example OF
this branch OF the work of sanitation is
contained In Col. GorSas' official report for
July Of this year. aid is relative to the
work IN the city of Panama.
The administration building in the CITY
of Panama has been kept 'stegomyi4 nroof'
during July" writes Col. Gorgas NO epee
of steSOmyia or other mosquitoes were
found during the month. although all con
tainers in this building. which Is quite large
have been carefully anad continuously scru.
tlEiGed daily. This building is being furni-
gated every two rocks. After the two
fumlgations IL July the floors were care
fully swept and no mosquitoes were found
although the fUlnigatious were stronc
enough TO Kill the flies which had entered
the building. II takes n longer and stronCc,
furaiRation 10 XII :lie5 than to destroy mos.
Guitoes
Tie houss-to-house inspection force has
been increased and some sections OF tbC
town are inspected every four days. and al
houses and yards are inspected at least
every six days.
Whenever the inspector finds a water
deposit containing mosquito larvae the Same
is eiap,ied ont Every room of each houcs