Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-01-25
BLAME MOSQUITO
FOR DREAD FEVER
ENToMoLoGlSTs CONVINCED IN.
sECTS SPREAD DISEASE.
C0NTAGION THEORY OLD
Professor Washhurn of Minnesota De-
clares Science Has Found the True
Source of the New Orleans Epi-
demic-An Aged Physician at Last
Renoences False Theory.

Notwithstanding the argument of a
very meager minority of physicians
that yellow fever is contagious and
that the mosquito theory is given too
much importance, the proceedings of
the American Association of Entomol-
ogists, indicate that the as yet uniden-
titled germ is spread by insects and
in no other way. Professor f. l..
Washburn of the Minnesota expert
ment station has returned from New
Orleans, where the entomologists have
just concluded their meeting, even
more convinced that the mosquito is
responsible for the recent epidemic of
the dread disease in the southern
metropolis.
Since the germ of yellow fever is
transmitted by mosquito, the yellow
fever question seems to be one be-
ogists as to doctors, for injury to
crops on the part of insects is insig-
nificant when compared with loss of
life through Them" said Professor
Washburn. The entomologists, there
fore, having discussed various phases
of their work relating to agriculture,
met with the section devoted to exper-
mental medicine and listened to some
excellent articles on the yellow fever
conditions, and the prospect of COM
batting the disease in that southern
city.
Il was told that everyone in New
Orleans thoroughly believed in the
doctrine, that the mosquito was the in.
termediate host of the so far unidenti.
fed germ. l found, however, that
there were a few doubters. At the
meeting of physicians, however. such
expressions were rare, since we had
in attendance some of the leading men
in the science from all parts of the
country. One man, however, dis
credited it. AS soon as he was
seated the dean of the medical depart
ment of Tulane university arose, a
man of surely between 20 and 80
years, gray-haired and gray-whiskered,
bowed down by years of work and re.
sponsibility. He said:
Gentlemen, have practiced medi
cine here for fifty years; l have been
through many an epidemic of yellow
fever; | believe that it was a con.
tagious disease; l grew up with this
idea and was thoroughly convinced OF
it. But / am now convinced that re-
cent experiments have demonstrated
beyond all question that the disease
is transmitted by this mosquito, and |
am willing, and do cheerfully renounce
my old beliefs and accept unhesitat-
ingly these new truths that have been
brought to light by the scientists of
the present day"
The audience went wild and
cheered the old man to the echo. 1t
was quite touching, the fact that one
of the old school, as It were. was so
willing to dismiss his old and evident
ly erroneous beliefs. One sees in
New Orleans behind every residence,
clsterns above ground. These are the
greatest menace to the city in connec-
ton with the yellow fever, for it is in
the water of these cisterns that steg-
omyia breeds. There is now an ordi-
nance which obliges citizens of New
Orleans to screen their cisterns with
small enough mesh to keep out these
dangerous insects. This was to have
gone into effect Jan. /, but the mayor
has. allowed an extension to Feb. 1.
In view of the fact that by many of
the poorer people of the city river
water is placed in barrels and tubs
and allowed I 0 settle, 1t apparently
will be great task for the authori
ties to get IT. ck OF all the sources
which offer breeding places for this
mosquito.
Il met one lady who had had yellow
fever, probably cne Of the very few, If
not the only one Of any social stand
ing who was affected. She said that
she was at no time alarmed at her
condition. She felt apathetic, and at
times was semi-delirious. She said
she resisted the black vomit,' making
up her mind that she simply would
not yield to it, and got through with
out that sickening feature, although it
called for exertion of strong will. The
fever is rightly named; Why she
said, sunfower is dull-colored in
comparison to my appearance.
was a brighter yellow than any vel.
low flower ever created"