Evening star., 1905-07-31

The 'Quarantines which are being estab-
lished against New Orleans in consequence
of the outbreak of yellow fever there at
tests to the tenacity with which people
cling to old beliefs and prejudices. If
there was ever a more thoroughly demon
strated proposition than that which is call
ed the mosquito theory of yellow fever
infection 1t is difficult of conception. 1t
was positively proved in Cuba, in circum-
stances which precuded of doubt as to the
reliability of the experiments, that yellow
fever is communicable through the bite of
certain species of mosquito, which breeds
in the swamps of the fever-ridden coun-
tries. 1t was also proved that If this mos
quito, with of course all others, was alb
solutely prevented from having access to
the patient, or from the patient to the well,
there was no fever infection. It was also
proved that not only was this an assured
method of communicating the fever germ.
but that apparently there was no other
means of infection. AT least. this negative
proof took the form of eliminating those
supposed methods which were in the past
regarded certain to cause a spread Of
the disease. Perfectly well persons, not
immune from the fever by reason of pre-
vious infection, were kept for a certain
period in close confinement behind mos
quito bars, so that they were not exposed
TO infection from that source. They were
brought into close contact with the wear
ing apparel and the bed clothes of persons
who had died of yellow fever. This test
was carried out in details which cannot be
described. Suffice 1t to say that notwith-
standing the most perfect exposure of the
well to the emanations of fever victims,
such influences as were in the past the SUBJ
ject of rigid quarantining and thorough
disinfection, not a single case of fever de-
veloped
Now, in the light of this apparently posi-
tive proof that the clothes and even the
deJecta of the sick do not carry infection,
it is the supremest folly to continue the
old methods of quarantining and sanitation
against yellow fever as the sole precaution
against a spread. Yet the residents of
cities lying within a few score of miles of
New Orleans are talking of and even form
ing Shotgun" guarantees to prevent in
vason and are also boycotting in trade
every article that is shipped out of the city
and demanding wholesale fumgation of
the mails. 1t is wise to make sure that peo-
pie do not leave New Orleans without un-
dergoing period of mosquito proof deten-
ton sufficient to ensure against the develop
ment OF the disease from prior Infection
But to ban New Orleans mails, fruit, fab
ric manufacturers and even hardware, as
is now proposed is merely to acknowledge
that the people of the middle south have
not yet learned the lesson so plainly taught
in Cuba.
These guarantees and boycotts cost
enormously. The total losses in trade, if
applied to truly scientific sanitation in the
dirty cities of the lower Mississippi, would
work wholesale reforms and greatly lower
the chances of fever spread In future years.
If the mosauto-producing pools, csterns.
ponds and marshes are cleaned and oiled
there will soon be a failure OF the insect
crop and. if the present dlctum of bac-
teriologists is correct. disapp earance of
the fever, save as sporadic cases oc-
casionally imported from less up-to-date
regions.