The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-17

The following letter has been re.
ceived from Df. Al. III. Doty, Health
Officer of the Port of New York. who
Is an acknowledged expert on yellow
fever:
STATE OF NEW YORK,
Health Officers Department.
Quarantine, s. d., July ", 1906.
Editor Pensacola Journal:
Dear Sir:-IMy attention has been
called to the enclosed, which appeared
in The Journal of Friday, June 22nd.
The inquiry is pertinent and reason
able and II you can allow the space, I
shall be very glad so far as possible
to answer It.
The most careful and exhaustive in
yestigation and experimental work
have presented conclusive evidence
that the yellow fever is transmitted
by a certain variety of the mosquito
known as the stegomyia. and thus far
there is no reason TO believe that it is
transmitted in any other way.
Your correspondent refers to the
fact that yellow fever occurred in an
epidemic form in New York and other
northern cities (179S-1S20 and later)
and asks if the stegomyia is the only
medium of infection and if so what is
the explanation of the outbreaks above
referred to which occurred in a sec
ton where the stegomyia is not found
will refer to a public statement which
have already made in regard to this
matter which is as follows:
Outbreaks Explained.
1T has also been asked why, If the
yellow fever mosquito does not propa-
gate in this section of the country, did
numerous outbreaks of the disease oc-
cur in New York City between 1888
and 1920? believe that it is explain
ed in the following way: The small
wooden trading vessels of one hundred
years ago. which piled between the
United States and foreign ports, were
usually a number of weeks in secur.
ing a full cargo which at Cuban and
Central American ports included ma.
terial which decOmpOSed readily and
became offensive; with the water
which reached the hold of the vessel
Thorough leaks or rain, many breeding
and feeding places for the mosquito
were furnished. At the time referred
TO a portion of the native population
lived along the shore and in close
proximity to the vessels which were
taking cargo for foreign ports; there
fore, there was a close affiliation be-
tween the members of the crews of
these vessels and the natives and
every reason why the non-infected and
infected mosquitoes should reach the
vessel and why they should breed
there and transmit the disease to those
on beard.
The Attack in 1898.
During the summer OF 1898 yellow
fever appeared in New York, at the
foot of Peck Slip. The statement Is
clear as to the manner i'm which IL oc-
Cured. bark with an offensive car
go arrived at Peck Slip from Cuban
port with history Of cases OF malig.
nant fever. Portions of the cargo
which were offensive were evidently
thrown overheard at this place. With
in a few days afterwards cases of vel.
low fever appeared.
"a COPY OF the report of the City
Health officer of that period which is
row in my possession specifically
states that the sanitary condition ats
Peck Slip and vicinity at the time re-
ferred to was exceedingly bad. owing
ITO the presence of offensive sewerage,
etc. Residences were situated along
the waterfront. and it was in these
houses that the yellow fever appeared.
It. is perfectly logical and reasonable
to assume that this vessel which ar
rived from a yellow fever infected area
rot only had cases of this disease on
board, but contained many breeding
r. aces for the propagation of the steg-
omyia. Under these conditions there
was no reason why secondary cases
should not have occurred in transit or
why the breeding place Of this insect
should not have been transferred TO
the shore in the vicinity of Peck Slip
to continue until the appearance OK
cold weather"
Will not Hibernate.
The stegomyia for some unknown
reason is not favorable to this section
of the country and although II will un-
ouestionably propagate here during
the summer months, no evidence has
vet been presented TO show that it will
hibernate during the winter and appear
again in the following year. thus per
petuating it's species as it does in the
south or in the yellow fever belt
Therefore We need expect it only when
| imported.
A radical change has taken place in
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