The leader., 1905-08-02

Sss1ssesssss94sssss ssssssssssss4ssasea
fumigation of patients quarters
and those adjoining. SO. Attempt
to destroy all mosquitoes in all
their stages.
These conclusions are based on
the experiments and investiga-
tions of the following workers: ::
Drs. Charles j. Finlay and
Claudio Delgado, in Havana, in
1881 to 1900; DR.. A. Agramonte,
in Havana, 1899; American Mill
tary Commission, composed Of
Major w. Reed, M. D., and Drs.
j. Carroll, A. Agramonte ana j.
w. Lazear, in Havana, 1900 and
1901; DR.. j. Guiteras, in Ha-
vana 1901; Commission Working
Party No. / of the Yellow
Fever Institute, Public Health
and Marine Hospital Service,
composed OF Drs. FL. B. Parker,
q. E. Boyer and @. l.. Pothhier,
in Vera Cruz, 1902; DR.. A. Agra
monte, in Vera Cruz and Mexico
City, 1902; French Commission,
composed Of Drs. Marchoux,
Salimbeni and Simond, in Rio
Janeiro, 1902 and 1908; Brazilian
Commission, appointed by DR.,
Emilio Ribas, composed of Drs.
L. P. Bareto, A. Gomez de Silva
and Julio de Baras, in Sac Paulo,
1903.
From the positive results OBJ
tanned in Cuba in 1901, under the
direction of Col. W. G. Gorgas of
the American Government of
Intervention, and still maintained
by the Cuban sanitary authori-
ties, we have reason to state posi-
lively that yellow fever could be
eliminated from the world by the
use. of measures similar to these
used In Cuba, as follows:
/. Destroy as many mosquitoes
as possible, so as to limit the
number of insects capable of
transmitting the disease. We
know that if there were no mos
quitos there would be no yellow
fever.
20. Prevent mosquitoes from
biting yellow fever patients. If
we prevent the mosquitoes from
getting infected we also prevent
yellow fever. This is, perhaps,
the most important measure
namely, strict mosquito proof iso-
lation of all cases Of yellow fever
and all suspicious cases.
"3. Destroy, by thorough fu-
migation, all mosquitoes that may
have become infected by biting
yellow fever cases.
This insect prefers to breed in
water-in rain water barrels, els
terms. tubs, cans, bostles or any
receptacle containing water. This
does not necessarily have to be
rain water.
Getty or State laws should be
in force during the breeding sea
son making it a penalty for any
one 10 be found .harboring larvae,
commonly called wriggIers or
wiggle tails, around their prem
ises. No water should be allow
ed to stand in any receptacle, un-
less it is covered, so that no mos
quitos can enter. The sanitary
inspectors should receive special
instructions to see that the laws
are complied with. They should
be provided with petroleum dis
tributing cans, to pour oil on all
uncovered, still or slowly moving
water that they may find. Gen
orally use about two teaspoonfuls
to the barrel, or one ounce to each
fifteen square feet of water.
Rainwater barrels and cisterns
should be abolished by furnishing
cheap water supply. However,
in localities where receptacles for
water are absolutely necessary,
make it compulsory that they be
mosquito-p proof. A strong, tight
fitting lid can be made, having a
small space in the center about
six inches square. This space is
to be covered with fine wire gauze
to prevent mosquitoes from enter
ing, and still allow enough yenti-
Iation for the water. Surface
drainage should be abolished
wherever possible. bitches and
open drains should be cleaned oc-
casionally and thoroughly flushed.
Pools or ponds that can not be
drained should be filled in with
sand or other material, or stocked
with fish, or treated once week
with petroleum. =
From the Journal Of the Amer
ican Medlcal Association, July s,
f905