Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1905-09-23
Surgeon General Wyman on Guarantees.

Surgeon General Wyman on VuaranHneS.
New Orleans, Sept. 2O-In special dis.
patch by the Washington correspondent of the
Times-Democrat, Surgeon General Wyman, OF
the United States Marine Hospital Service,
strongly deprecates the idea of freight quaran-
tines and emphatically declares that not only is
great injustice done thereby but totally unnec-
cessary harm, Surgeon Wyman lays stress up
on unnecessary" harm, for he reiterates
neither freight, household goods, or merchan-
disc or any description can carry infection,
which he repeats is carried solely, only and ex.
clusively by the infected stegomyia faciata
mosquito.
Freight of itself does not carry the infec-
ton of yellow fever" said DR.. Wyman. 1T may
safely be received anywhere. The infection
comes from infected mosquitoes. But as an
IRENE precaution and to satisfy the doubts of
those who still are skeptical, freight cars are
now being disinfected by the Marine Hospital
Service. Even this is of doubtful necessity, but
is being done to give full assurance There is
absolutely no instance that know of where yell
low fever has been traced to freight.
"The fact of the matter is, if the inhabitants
of those towns which gave set up freight quar-
antines would spend the time and money thus
wasted, in keeping close watch on suspicious
cases of fever, in screening houses and cisterns
and extermiuating the stegemyia facata and all
mosq uitoes for that matter, they would be doing
themselves more good and others far less harm.
1T is gratifying to note however, that the
people whole have accepted the mosquito
doctrine and daily receive assurance to this
end. The ablest scientists of the world have
made deep, exhaustive and complete tests and
there is yet to be one instance recorded where
yellow fever has been transmitted by any means
other than the infected stegomyia faciata. To
the people of the South who are so sore1y af1ict-
ed and with whom we all deeply sympathize,
say, abandon your useless freight guarantees
it is waste of time, money and energy. Con-
centrate that energy on the determination of
mosquitoes and you have the solution of your
problem in your own hands,"
Ia line with DR.. Wyman's assertions, Sur
geon ]. H. White, in charge for the United States
Government of the New Orleans yellow fever
situation, says he is having every freight car
that leaves New Orleans thoroughly fumigated
in order that all mosquitoes may be killed and
that such carry official seal to that effect.
The whistle nuisance is constantly reassert-
ing itself, probably due to the fact that the
matter is largely in the hands of ignorant or
irresponsible parties. The whistles of loco
motives should not be used to call the craft
from labor to refreshment, at least the practice
of disturbing the composure of four or five
thousand persons within a mile~of switch
engine merely to call one Of the number to his
work, should be prevented by the police, under
the law of the city. The steam whistle is often
used as fire alarm, and its usefulness for such
purpose is destroyed by the foolish use of the
whistle morning, noon and night. If one long
blast adopted, except in case of fire. the
nerves of hundreds of people would be saved
repeated strain and the usefulness of the whistle
as fire alarm would be preserved.
~ n
Pull for Fitzgerald or pull out.