The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1905-08-02
THE MOSQUITO THEORY
How it Was Tested and Proved at Havana. The Clear
Demonstration That the Stegomyia and 1t Alone
Transmits the Yellow Fever. Convincing Proof
of This Made by United States Experts and
Army Officers.

conveyed the unknown u OF yell
low fever. but did not succeed in
demonstrating the truth of his theory.
DR.. H. r. Carter of the Marine
Hospital Service had written a paper
showing that although the period Of
incubation was only five days. yet a
house to which a patient was carried
did not become infected for from
fifteen to twenty days.
CAUSE OF YELLOW FEVER.
To Reeds mind this indicated that
the unknown infective agent has to
undergo a period of incubation of
from ten to fifteen days and probably
in the body of the biting insect.
Up to this time the most generally
accepted theory as to the causatiOn of
yellow fever was that of Sanarelli.
who claimed that the bacillus icete-
rOids discovered by him was the
specific agent of the disease. Major
Reed, in association with DR.. Carroll,
had, however, already demonstrated
that this bacillus was one widely dis
seminated in the United States. and
bore no such relation to yellow fever.
In June, July and August, 1900, the
commission gave their entire atten-
ton to the psychological study of
the blood of yellow fever patients and
the post mortem examination of the
organs of those dying of the disease.
In twenty-four cases where the blood
was repeatedly examined, as we'll as
in eleven carefully studied autopsies,
bacillus iceteroids we're not dis
covered, nor was there any indication
of the presence in the blood of a
specific cause of the disease.
Application was made to Gen.
Leonard Wood, the military Gov
ernor of Cuba, for permission to con-
duct experiments on nonimmune per-
sons, and q liberal sum of money
requested for the purpose of reward
ing volunteers who would submit
themselves to experiments.
: It was indeed fortunate that the
military Governor of Cuba was a man
who, by his breadth of mind and
special scientific training, could
readily appreciate the arguments of
Major Reed as to the value of the
proposed work.
Money and full authority to pro-
coed e promptly granted, and to
the everlasting glory of the American
soldier volunteers from the army
offered themselves for experiment in
plenty and with the utmost fearless
mes
DEATH OF DR.. LAZEAR.
Before the arrangements were en-
tirely completed DR.. Carroll, a men,
Der of the commission allowed him
self to be bitten by q mosquito that
twelve days previously had filed it.
self with the blood of q yellow fever
patient. He suffered from a very
eve attack, and his was the first
experimental case. DR.. Lazear also
experimental on himself at the same
time, but was not infected. Some
days later, while in the yellow fever
ward, he was bitten by q mosquito
and noted the fact carefully. He &C.
quired the disease in its most terrible
form and died . martyr to science and
. true hero.
No other fatality occurred among
the brave men who in the course OF
the experiments willingly exposed
themselves to the infection of the
dreaded disease.
THE CAMP.
!, A camp was especially constructed
for the experiments, about four miles
from Havana. christened Camp
'Lazear in honor of the dead comrade.
The inmates of the camp were put in.
to most rigid quarantine and ample
time was allowed to eliminate any
possibility of the disease being
brought In from Havana.
The personnel consisted of three
nurses and nine nonimmunes, all ir
the military service, and included
two physicians.
From time to time Spanish immi,
grants, newly arrived, we're brought
in from the immigrant station: a per-
son not known to be immune was no
allowed to leave camp, or if he did
Wa forbidden to return.
The most complete record was KEEP
Of the health Of every man to be ex