Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-01-27
SANITARY WORK IN
THE CANAL ZONE
Something of the Achievements OF
the Commission in That Direction,
as Shown by November Figures.

4 copy of the report Of the depart
mcut of health OF the Isthmian Canal
commission for the month Of Novem-
Der. has been received i'm Phoenix. 1t
is printed paper covered book Of
over 20 pages. mostly devoted to the
tabulation of information covering ev-
cry line Of activity connected with the
efforts Of the commission for better
sanitation. ono would think from the
close record being kept of sanitary
affairs and the comprehensive sani-
tary work going on that the isthmus
ought in a very short dine to become
the hcalthiest place in the world.
There IS a full report OF all deaths
and cases of sickness in each of th'
ten hospitals. the nature Of Illness,
the number Of cases discharged. the
number and character Of surgical OPP
erations. the number Of deaths and
cause Of each. the length of time the
victims have been on the isthmus, the
percentage of deaths to the popula-
ton. the nationality of the victims,
and i'm fact almost all the data one
could imagine. In addition there are
by each brigade Of employees in the ex-
tension of sanitary regulations and
facilities. the number OF places clear
ed of mosquitoes and the breeding
places destroyed and I'll manner Of
tables and lists showing the work Of
the sanitary army The regulations
seem to be strict all over the zone
wherever people live. or wherever they
are to be expected to live in the years
to come 1t would hardly seem that
there could be any scientific reason
why a person should even be sick in
that country. much less die. Never
theless they do die occasionally and
one man is reported as having finally
pegged out after living to between 80
and 100 wears there. The total popI-
lation Of Panama. Canal Zone and
Colon is given az S0.SS1. and Of this
number 24l died during November. II
is also stated that the annual average
death rate per 1900 for the month Of
November was 1916. II Is inferred
therefore, that the normal death rate
for upwards Of 10000 would be $500
and the come down to 241 is surely a
notable improvement and the best evil
dence Of the good work being done in
sanitation.
By reference to another table /. is
found that Of the 241 deaths only
seven were Of citizens OF the United
States Another table shows that
thirty-fivc Of the fatalities were chill
dren under l year old and twenty-one
were of persons between / year and
20 years. Tit total number of deaths
Of employees Of the commission and
Panama railroad was sixty-six Of
whom. but four were citizens Of the
United states. or these siNty-siN,
twenty-five died Of malarial fever. six
II typhoid and thirteen of pneumonia.
The others died Of widely varying lf-
fections as they would under normal
conditions, anywhere.
OF the five white employees who died
three were from the United States.
one from Spain and one from Panama.
the latter born and raised there. The
others had been on the isthmus from
five TO ten months. The native died
Of pneumonia. the Spaniard of peri
tonitis. one American Of tuberculo-
sis. another Of malaria and the third
OF empvema. There were twenty-five
cases Of ill-defined diseases. acct
dents. etc. of the total of PAL and the
rest died as the result Of some fifty
five different diseases.
All this indicates beside the good
work Of the commission. that there is
but little. if any more danger there
now from epidemics than anywhere
else and that II one who goes to the
isthmus feels that he must die he can
have the choice of about as large and
variegated an assortment Of disease
routes as anywhere and the names of
diseases given in the list are many
Of them larger and more awe-inspir
ing than even the popular appendicitis
of the home land.
Moses was the meekest man. but the