The Opelousas courier., 1905-09-23
Instructive Lectures.

assembled to hear the addresses
of Drs. l.. G. LeBeuf and NJ. j.
Magruder, of New Orleans, who
visited Opelousas at the invitation
of the local Board of Health to
deliver lectures on "The Mosquito
and its relation to disease" and
"Sanitation and Fumigation.'
DR.. B. A. Littell, Mayor, and
president of the town and parish
Boards of Health, called the meet
ing to- order and after explaining
the object of the meeting, intro
duced DIR. LIE Beuf as the first
speaker. DIR. LIE Beuf made a
lengthy review of the results of
the various experiments which led
to the proven correctness of the
mosquito theory, or doctrine as it
has now come to be recognized,
eulogizing in the highest terms
those who had become martyrs to
science in order to ascertain the
real cause of yellow fever and its
dissemination. The doctor also
dwelt at some length on the ex-
cellent sanitary condition of this
town, and complimented the citi-
zens on their prompt and efficient
efforts to prevent the infection of
yellow fever, but urged at the
same time that there be no let up
in the good work. DR.. LIE Beuf
stated that the only thing needed
to complete the perfect sanitary
condition of the town, and assure
its remaining permanently so,
was an up to date sewerage system
which he understood the town
contemplated constructing at an
early date.
The doctor during the course of
his remarks, gave the following
as the accepted and proven facts
relative to the mosquito doctrine,
the application of which has rid
Havana of yellow fever, and is
now working like results in New
Orleans and other infected points:
A-A special kind Of mosquito
acting as the intermediary cause
of transmission, and that mos
quito the female stegomya fas-
ciata.
BIO be liable to transmit the
nn;snn NJ toxin. II would have to
feed on a person suffering from
yellow fever, and that feeding had
to take place during the first three
days of illness.
C-That period of time had
to elapse, say IL to 20 days before
the mosquito by biting non-im-
munes could inoculate him with
yellow fever.
The doctor recommended the
rewriting Of the entire sanitary
| code especially with regard to
punitive clauses, and the proper
| responsibility. He stated that
the concealment of the existence
| Of yellow fever, or any other dis
ease. was criminal and should be
punished as any other crime. and
that so long as the truth was
screened from the public there
would be a constant nistrust OF
the medical profession and the
health officers, who without the
confidence and assistance of the
people, could accomplish nothing.
DR.. lie Beuf also detailed the
| method Of treatment of yellow
fever, putting very great stress
on the necessity for perfect quiet
Of the patient, the absolute alb.
stinance from food Of any kind
for at least three or four days,
and the liberal administration OF
| sponge baths in order to keep
| down the temperature OF the pa
/ tient.
AT the conclusion of DIR. LIZ
| Beuf's lecture, the chairman in
troduced DR.. M. j. Magruder
who confined his remarks prin
cipaliy to the results accomplish
| ed ia New Orleans and elsewhere
during the present epidemic O
/ yellow fever us proof Of the cor
i rectness-of the mosquito doctrine
| and cited the following facts:
In The emergency hospital i
| New Orleans, in charge Of DR.. II
/ r. Jones, which has been in op
Grafton since the latter part o
July, there have been treated ~!
cases. Two Of the doctors VIII
/ remain constantly in the hospita
are non-immnnes. Of the trained
nurses, II in number, have ney
er had yellow fever and all ar
now in perfect health though I
constant attedance upon the vel
4 low fever patients. In addition
Ito these, corps Of orderlies AM
other assistants remain constant
q " within the building, and rela
d tives and friends Of the patient
are allowed to visit the sick an
q Id several instances have bee
permitted to remain with the sic
during their entire stay within th
hospital.
Iii the Charity Hospital, DR.. ]
M. Bachelor had 16 wards pei
fectly screened and in these q
i Il fnvnr aaf;anfs ara imnaNdlatet