The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-08-12
How to Prevent the Spread of
Yellow Fever.


The following facts, based on the
experience and actua, experiments
and Investigations OF the most prom.
inent yellow fever specialists in the
world. are now very generally al
mftted, and are being rigidly employ
ed in the present outbreak of the ie-
yer In the city of New Orleans, viz:
/. The only natural method that
ia known by. which yellow fever is
transmitted from the sick to the heal
thy person IL by the bite of mOsqui-
tos previously infected by biting a
sick person in the first three days OF
an attack of the fever.
2. On the fourth day of the desease
the blood no longer contains the virus
Of yellow fever, even when the fever
is high.
3. Up to the present time 1t has
not been proven that yellow fever is
transmitted by any species except
the one known as stegomyia fasciata.
4. The infected mosquito IL only
dangerous after an interval of twelve
days from the time 1t has ingested
virulent blood.
Acting in the light OF the above
theory the following inrtructions II
carefully followed will eliminate all
danger of a spread of the desease:
/. Destroy az many mosquitoes as
possible, so as to limit the number OF
insects capable OF transmitting the dis
ease. We know II there were no mos
quitOs there would be no yellow fever.
2. Prevent mosquitoes from biting
yellow fever patients. II we prevent
the mosquitoes from getting infected
we also prevent yellow fever. This
is, perhaps. the most Important meas
ure, namely. strict mOsquito-proof
isolation OF all cases Of yellow fever
and all suspicious cases.
3. Destroy, byfumigation. all mos
quitos that may have become infect
ed by biting yellow fever cases.
The above facts were given out by
DR.. C. NJ. Brady. president of the
Gretna board of health, who went
to investigate the case of Nunez Mes
sina, the Italian, who died at Bunkie
on the night of July oath.
DIR. E. s. Mathews. president of the
Bunkie hoard Of health. under whose
direction the most stringent mcas-
ures were adopted to protect Bunkie
from infection, appears thus far to
have been successful. as no further
cases have developed In that commu-
nifty. In addition to having the
above facts published In the Bunkie
Review, he issued the following state
ment as a part Of his caution to the
people. viz:
According to the expert. DIR. Brady,
any mosquito, (Stegomyia) biting a
yellow fever patient during the first
three days OF the attack conveys the
vey the cause. Those mosquitoes who
bite the patient during the first three
days. should they bite any one not
immune. they will cause yellow fever
In that person within three days.
The life Of mosquito OF this species
is about 20 days; the older he gets
after the 10th day the more fatal the
form Of yellow fever his bite will
cause"
In the Bunkie case pounds ofsulphur
were burned about the house in which
the patient died. beds and bedding
were all burned. and everybody that
had been about the man were taken
to an isolated spot In the country.
Under direction of the board all
bitches and pools were coated with
coal oil, the cisterns all oiled and
screened. and general precautionary
measures taken throughout the town.