East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-08-25


Republics have short memories, re-
minds the outlook. 1t is only LITTLE
over five years since DR.. Walter Reed
reported TO the Pan-American con-
gress at Havana the result Of his ex-
psriments, by which II had been DEM
onstrated that yellow fever is not
properly speaking, contagious; that 1t
is not carried by clothing; that it does
not infect tn, house; that the common
IL not the sole method Of transmission
is the bite of the infected mosquito;
and that the spread of the fever can
be controlled and practically prevent
ed by the destruction Of the mosquito
or the protection Of the sick against
her tite, since If the mosquito is not
infected she cannot infect others. The
effect of this demonstration, obtained
at the hazard of life, has been to rem,
der America practically secure against
further incursions of this terrible
scourge.
And yet to the most of our readers
the name of Walter Reed is unknown;
to nearly all of them the names are
wholly unknown of the private SOL
diers who voluntarily subjected them
selves 70 yellow fever for the purpose
OF furnishing this demonstration; and
to many of them there is only a faint
impression of the experiments them
selves, as recorded at the time in fu-
gitive articles in the newspapers and
periodicals. We are, therefore, very
glad that Prof Howard A. Kelly has
preserved in permanent form the rec
ord Of this heroic adventure in "a BIZ
ography of Walter Reed.
DR.. Finlay. of Cuba, was the first
TO suggest that the mosquito might be
an agent for the transmission of yell
low fever.
This remained, however. an unprov-
ed suggestion until the year 1900,
when the medical commission of
which DR.. Reed was made chairman,
was appointed to investigate the cause
and endeavor to ascertain a cure, or,
what is more important, a prevention,
Of yellow fever. To determine wheth-
er this disease was carried by con-
taminated clothing, or by the mos
quito, or by both media, it was neces-
sary to find men who would volunteer
themselves for a process of terrible
experimentation. DR.. Carroll, of the
commission, first offered himself for
the purpose. He submitted to the bite
of a mosquito which had previously
bee nallowed to bite yellow fever pa
tients. as result was taken sick with
the yellow fever, was carried to the
yellow fever camp and his life hung
in the balance for three days, though
he eventually recovered. A single ex-
pertinent did not, however. suffice to
furnish a scientific demonstration. An
experimental station was opened, vol
unteers were called for, a number
Offered Themselves and two were se-
lected.
> Dr. Reed talked the matter over
with them. explained fully the danger
AM suffering involved in the expert
ment should it be successful, and then,
seeing they were determined, he stat
ed that a definite money compensa-
tion would be made to them. Both
young men declined to accept it, maxi
ing it, indeed, their sole stipulation
that they should receive no pecuniary
reward: whereupon Major Reed
touched his cap, saying respectfully;
Gentlemen, ] salute you Reeds
own words in his published account
Of the experiment on Kisslnger are;
In my opinion, this exhibition ot
moral courage has never been surpa.ss.
ed in the annals Of the army of the
United States"
This courage was equaled by thai
exhibited in later experiment, wher
three non-immunes slept from No
vember 30 TO December 19, a perioC
of 20 days. in bedding taken fror
the beds Of patients sick with yellow
fever. and especially sciled with tn
results Of the yellow fever disease, fl
a room furnished with the least pos
sible ventilation, in an air excessivel
malodorous. and in a temperatur
both hot and humid. Their courag
ir submitting to such a test is no
lessened by the fact that all "remain
ed in perfect health. notwlthstandin
their stay OF 20 nights amid such ur
wholesome surroundings"
These experiments were precede
and accompanied by scientific Pre-
cesses which fill our lay minds wit
anazement. II is NOT necessary Il
us to trace here in any detail the e
feet of these discoveries on healt
conditions. That effect IS iiustrat,
by the facts that while in octobe