The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

to the primitive water supply of Panama and Colon.
which compelled the Inhabitants TO rely bar
reIs ciserns. and small and tanks for
sufficient ordinary domestic These stag
innumeTable breeding places for mos
quitoes in quarter OF the city.
Of the "stegomyia brigade fer while were
confined covering all water receptacles with wooden
wire netting. in order exclude mosquitoes
from the surface of the water
When the mains from the reservoir which supplies
the city OF Panama with water sufficiently extended
permit the partial OF the hydrgns the street
corners and free supplied all who came. IL
became possible to begin the wholesale destruction or
barrels tanks and other household water containers
fiji up wells and other underground cisterns.
All Of these receptaces and breeding places de-
stroyed The only which domestic water is
allowed stand the large erthenware jars and cCO
ers in use by the inhabitants Of tie isthmus.
To prevent the injection of mosquitoes and the
qUent spread of yellow fever il that all
patients should isolated disease
tested itself long time sanitary officials
dependent information of upon voluntary
myia brigade"
As a result Of this imperfect system however many
cases were never reported and others remained for
days unscreened before they brought TO the
tice the authorities
To remedy this condition eight local physicians were
appointed in Panama, and five in Colon to act med
cal inspectors and 10 make daily houseo-house canvass
Of the TWO cities reporting all suspected 10 the
authorities
PATIENTS EFFECTIVELY ISOLATED.
ing symptoms yellow fever allow themselves Be
a hospital II the patient refused. preerring
home he placed under mosquito bar. the
windows OF his screened and double vesi-
buIe attached door which locked guarded
by an attendant instructed admit only the doctors
nurses. and limited number of immune relatives
friends Of this precauon there has been
single OF yellow fever contracted from sufferers
IN every where yellow fever reported TO
the health authorities the house where the patient had
been staying thoroughly fumigated, also the
Ia add
made to the movements of the patient during the
davs Immediately preceding the contraction of the disease,
and if it seemed probable that he became infected in any
other building it went through the process OF
fumigation
In discussing and methods used in the fui-
CATION work Colonel Gorgas says:
The occupants of the house were given few days
previous notice and then the appointed time brigade
in charge Inspector would make the place nearly
smokeproof as possible All cracks and openings the
building sealed with strips or sheets of paper Of su
cient size attached with paste
Iron pots brick supports containing pyrethrum
powder sulphur placed in each ignited and
left to smoIder four hours The doors and
windows were then opened and the smoke had
cleared sufficiently aborers remain the house.
the floors swept and the sweepings containing
and stunned mosquitoes were taken into the
and burned
Tt became apparent in June that the fumigation
of only those in which OF fever had
found to which they had been traced would not be
sufficient check the epidemic 1t was therefore de-
ternined TO fumigate the entire city Of Panama within
the shortest possible space OF time.
TWO WHOLE CITIES FU1uGATED
since twelve DAYS elapse after the stegomyia
has bitten patient before it
case if was desired complete the within that
orod but this proved impossible The time con-
,roed was orty-fOur days from July August 19
The entire city of Colon then fumigated in like
ner.
The people OF Panama. themselves immune from
Yellow fever have submitted patiently uncomplainn
ly TO annoyance and inconvenience of fumgaton The
f complaints which have been made related rather
10 the time fumigation the fumiga-
iton itself Few claims been for compensation
for damages resulting the fumigating work and al
most every one Of has basis OF merit
The great object of the work however has been accom-
pshed Yellow been banshed from Panama and
believed that the dread scouge will again secure
= foothold there.