New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-30

patients
from ordinary inexpert workmen who were en-
gagged in cleansing water tanks and similar
work No wonder under these conditions, that
the fever was constantly spreading. Governor
Magoon changed all that in twinkling. He
employed eight native Panaman physicians as
sanitary inspectors. selecting, With the valuable
aid of President Amador. who is a distinguished
authority on yellow fever and other tropical dis
eases those who most familiar with yellow
fever and who would be most likely TO recog-
ni1e il in it's earliest stages. Then he divided
the whole city of Panama into eight districts,
and assigned of these physicians TO each dis
trict, with orders to make q thorough inspection
of every house in 1t every day. That was thor
ough inspection with vengeance! In addition.
these physicians were directed to act as mis-
sionaries and teachers, explaining to the people
the mosquito theory. and impressing upon them
the Importance of hearty and constant co-opera-
ton with the American authorities in sanitation.
The employment of native Panaman physicians
for this purpose was a most tactful device and
obvated friction and opposition the part of
the people.
Colonel Gorgas also organized practical
school Of sanitation for the employees of his de-
partment both inspectors and workmen to
teach them what to be done and why it
must be DONE and to enable them In turn to
explain matters to the people. Then the whole
city thoroughly gone over, with view to
destroying all stegomyia Larvae which might be
found in water tanks or other vessels and either
sbols,ling the reeeptacles or screening them
thoroughly that more mosquitoes could get
access to them. The Panamans are generally
immune against yellow fever and many of them
had no faith in, If even knowledge of. the mos
quito theory. and so they were disinclined to
take the trouble to screen the tanks and to re-
place the screens carefully every time they were
removed TO get at the water. Tact and patience,
however, in time overcame this difficulty and
secured the hearty and efficient cooperation OF
the people of Panama. This achievement was.
of course, greatly promoted by the introduction
of new water supply and the consequent aboli-
ton of the old tanks and cisterns Governor
Magoon at early date withdrew the work.
men from the canal and concentrated all efforts
upon the waterworks and sewers. with happy
results BY July 4 the principal water main
was extended as far as the Cathedral Plaza, in
the very heart of the city, and on that day the
water was turned on for public 1t was
supplied freely from street hydrants until proper
plumbing connections made with the
houses In addition. a temporary measure
until the mains could be extended to all parts
Of the CITY, ten large water wagons were
poyed to go about the city, distributing water
freely TO all who could not get 1t from the
hydrants. With such facilities afforded to the
people it was possible to proceed vigorously
with the work of destroying water barrels ana
tanks and filing up wells and underground els
terms At the present time fully nineteen-twen-
tieths of such water receptacles which existed
in Panama four months ago have been de-
stroyed Meantime careful watch has been
kept on all the streets Of the city for the i'm
mediate removal and destruction Of all empty
cans bottles etc, which. holding little water.
might mosquito nests, and the fllins
up, drainage or treating with oil or disinfectants
Of all pools and puddles of water In this way
it has been made practically impossible for the
stegomyfa to be propagated in Panama. A SINH
lar work has been performed in Colon and in
the various villages along the line of the rail-
road and canal.
Statistics show the results of this policy L
have said that In May last there were thirty
eight cases. and more expected In June.
They came. Of course because the results OF
former neglect were then to be reaped, and there
was not time for the results of the new policy,
which dates from Governor Magoon's arrival on
May %. TO appear. In June there were sixty
two cases. and Governor Magoon. without losing
faith in the ultimate triumph of his and Colonel
Gorgas's policy. seriously considered the ques-
ton of temporarily removing the entire non
immune population of Panama from the CITY,
and placing It upon the beautiful and salubri-
island of Taboga, in the bay. 1t is prob
able that the whole clerical force Of the canal
administration at least. would thus have been
transferred had the buildings on Taboga been
in proper condition to receive it. AS it was, this
step was not taken and was soon seen not to be
needed In July the number of cases decreased
TO forty-two nd a gen al feeling Of encour-
asement arose. In August the number fell to
twenty-seven and victory was within sight In
September the disease came to an end, with a
total of only six cases The last case in Colon
occurred on August q. and the last case in the
city of Panama September IA The last case
anywhere in the canal zone occurred at the
village of Matachin, on September 20. where L
think the fever had never been known before
The case was obviously an adventurous one, i'm
ported by some remote chance. but to guard
against the slightest danger Of its duplfca-
ton the whole village was literally saturated
with disnfectants, that a stegomyia flying
over It would infallibly have dropped dead.
Thus Fins is written to the story of yellow
fever in Panama The advertisement of 500 in
gold for a single case has stared the publlc IN
the eye for many days. but has stood unchai-
lenged and unanswered. Meantime sanitary Vlgt-
lance remains unrelaxed, while work al tne
renovation OF the city goes on with effecti'e
expedition The entire water system. 1hciudlns
house service. is now more than % per cent
done. The sewerage is more than oZ per cent
completed. two-thirds of the area or the CITY
of Panama being fully served. The paving OF
streets with yitrifed brick has been begun, and
Secretary Taft will next week have the pleasure
of riding over at least block or two OF as good
pavement as there is in the world, In city
which at his last visit had doubtless the worst
pavement in the world. As for the genera
health of Panama, it is excellent WINE tae ne
spirit Of the American colony has become as
admirable as IL was a few months ago deplor-
able and deInoralized. The redemption OF the
isthmus appears to be complete, and there is
every reason for confidence that the good work
Of the last six months will never be undone-
W. +. j.