The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-06
CUBA AND YELLOW JACK
AN EXPERT SAYS ISLAND IS FER-
 TILE FIELD FOR FEVER.
Dr. William T. Jenkins Fears Neglect May Bring About Serious Results and Calls for Vigorous
 Policy.

New York Jan. 5.-The Herald pub- fishes the following, under Havana date, from it's expert sent to Cuba to look into the subject of yellow fevor there:
 Few persons understand and fewer appreciate that the American military occupation of Cuba was one of the greatest movements fin history. From military standpoint and according to Old World and old-time history. tradi- tion and ideals, 1t was Sjunketing--a little game of hounds and hares.
 It furnished the first practical sani- tary model for protecting armies against preventibie climatic and germ diseases in tropics or elsewhere, thus insuring full force on firing line. The necessity for the model was emphasiz- ed by the severe and memorable les- son learned by our army just after the siege of Santiago, when thousands of our soldiers were returned. stricken with levers to the hospital at Mon- tauk Point. It dissipated and destroy ed yellow fever in Cuba. its stronghold for 150 years, converting that scpulchrs into sanitarfum.
 The occupation of Cuba was the first consummation toward the majestic Patrick Manson-that the milder trop- les might become through control of preventible tropical germ diseases, an- other home and seat of power for the Anglo-Saxon. Without thus generaifz- ing. 1t Is difficult to comprehend Cuba.s obligations. dangers and promises as against her performance.
 Nor Is all this glory ours. After several weeks search and inquiry into Havana's slums, palaces, water. sewer age, hospitals. prisons, schools. immi- grafton. shipping, quarantine, hCr clean signs and foulings-up to the limits of her lights. understandings and mis- understandings. her laws and means, as far as Havana shows. can say that Cuba has kept the faith.
 Statistical inquiry shows that Cuba through mosquito sanitation has be- come the largest magazine of mortal yellow fever material which ever ex- isted. According to observation, unless one has yellow fever in infancy, or later, he is almost sure to catch 1t if bitten by a yellow fever, mosquito which some twelve days before sucked blood from a yellow fever victim.
 During the last five years there has been a steady annual average Of about thirty thousand on-immune white im- migrants to Cuba--all best food for yell dren Nborn in Cuba under the mosquito
 
 catch fire like gunpowder, and many of them would die.
 The non-immunel immigrants and tn- fant population which has accumulated fin the last five years gives Cuba today something like three hundred thousand souls, who, if exposed, would certainly take yellow fever as any Northerner. Tses is but one of many ways of stat ing and of bringing home to the Cuban !, ,t@- Int fact and necessity. Let 1t also show how we'll Cuba thus far has practiced mosquito sanitation.
 Apparently very unselhshly Cuba has striven to be worthy of trust according to the highest kovernmehtal standards of today. Formerly. when exposed to yellow fever charged m@squitoes. Gu. ban infants caught mild form oflyei. low fever. which thereafter bestowed perfect protection. No matter how promising. America would never sur render the blessings and protection of vaccination for any other form of pro- tection.
 In view of the amazing protection Cuba has obtained thorough simple mosquito tactics two cases in three years). much of this article might seem unduly pessimistic. The subject Is vast. many sided one.
  paigners and experts. Surgeon Major Gorgas. thinks the germ of yellow fever will become extinct. Another authority, Dr. John Guiteras, goes him one better and believes tactics will eradicate the germ in ten years. On the other hand Dr. Patrick Manson. the gaeatest authority on tropical diseases has expressed the fear that the opening of the Panama canal will n-&A ka its myriades. its millions of non-im- mune populations.
 One thing certain, the practice of mosquito methods has given some yell low fever experts an astonishing con fidence in their ability to prevent the disease. They seem to believe we can now laugh at yellow fever with the aid of early diagnosis, mosquito net isolation and general mosquito tactics. and that also if need be, in the midst of measureless filth.
 From this it may be seen that cey- tain spirit of sanitation contained In the United States permanent treaty with Cuba may come to have little clutch of significance. This means that the medical side of yellow fever. its isolations. mosquito methods and tactics, as practised in Cuba, are per. haps not to he improved on.
 It's splendid results may Aedu, II It has not already led. to a neglect and putting off of the installation Of the substantial and more permanent, ex- pensive and most indispensable and wholesome forms of municipal aa,d government sanitation. such as scien- tific sewer water. pavement and guar antine systems. It is only too much to be feared that this is the case, as will be endeavored to be shown in suh- sequent letters.
 In conclusion. let it be said that what is here written has come from no carping or fault-finding spirit: on the contrary. the desire is that Cuba and her cities shall stand forefront. shoulder to shoulder, with the best, for the sake of her immigration, her finan- cial. her immeasurable tourist possi- bilities.
 Naples was one of the filthiest oe cities until visited by that great sant- tary inspector. cholera; thereafter. Ma ples and Italy together spent $43.0oo.- 900 in permanent sanitary installation and decoration. How greatly, there fore, has Naples profted In health and wealth from visitors. Not from the whole world could more pertinent comparison be sought for beautiful Havana.
 William T. Jenkins. M. D.