New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-11
DOTY ON YELLOW FEVER
URGES MORE CAUTION.
Does Not Believe Infected Mosqui-
toes Hide IN CargoeS.

An address delivered last December before the
American Public Health Association In the City
Of Mexico by DR.. A. H. Doty, Health Commits
sioner OF this port, is attracting much interest
IN medical circles.
In that address DR.. Doty reviewed the work
OF his department at Quarantine. and dwelt par
hcularly on his experience with infected mosQui-
toes He said that although there are many
vessels arriving almost daily at this port from
Cuban and South American ports, where gel
low fever is more or less prevalent there has
not been ease OF yellow fever removed from
an incoming vessel during the last twelve
fifteen years the infection Of which could not be
traced to the port Of departure"
docs II not appear strange" he said, that, II
yellow fever not infrequently occurs on ship
board as result OF the presence of infected
mosquitoes, some evidence OF It is not presented
at this port2 Further evidence that infected
mosquitoes are rarely found on shipboard is
shown by the fact that vessels which carry
many passengers are daily arriving at New York
from Havana and other Cuban ports. Cases OF
yellow fever have occasionally been removed
from them, but in no instance has the disease
subsequently appeared among those who were
fellow passengers or members OF the crew Of
said vessels, and the disease in all cases has APP
peared within six days after leaving the in
rected port"
DR.. Doty intimated that he did not take seri-
ously the theory that infected mosquitoes are
concealed IN vessels and their cargo and that
they thereby constitute a menace TO public
health. He said this theory derived It's support
largely from the fact that outbreaks OF yellow
fever the origin OF which is unknown inrre-
Quently appear IN seaports.
For this reason DR.. Doty said that even where
cases Of yellow fever have been found aboard
neither the cargo nor the vessel is subjected TO
investigation, unless in cases where there has
been absolute proof that infected mosquitoes are
present He advocated. however, a moro riRfd
investigation Of persons coming from so-oaIled
yellow fever ports.
Persons arriving ct New York on vessels
from yellow fever infected ports are subjected"
he said. ito the most thorough and careful in
vestigation. Those who do not present satisfac-
tory evidence Of immunity Gre removed for OBJ
servation. provided the vessel has not been I'VE
days or moro IN transit from the last infected
port, and then are only released at the expira-
ton Of the fifth day from the time OF departure
IL their temperatures are normal and they are
otherwise we'll
Even II the vessel has been I'VE days or more
in transit and ell on board are well, the Their
mometer is used, ana those whose temperature
are above 901k degrees Fahrenheit or those who
for observation. Neither the vessel nor its cargo
Is subjected TO any treatment whatever This
has not been done even when yellow fever exists
on shipboard, and effort is made or would be
made to destroy mosquitoes unless a vessel had
been long time in transit and there was rea-
sonable evidence that secondary cases had oo-
CURED result OF the presence OF infected
mosquitoes. Then the most careful and thor
ough treatment would be carried out This con-
dition has not yet presented itself.
I believe that the facts do not Justify us in
gripping commerce and causing detention Of
persons by attempts TO destroy presumably In
rected mosquitoes on vessels arriving from yell
low fever infected ports unless in each instance
where this treatment is proposed there is good
practical evidence that infected mosquitoes are
present. 1 further believe that a more thorough
inspection should be made OF all persons arriv-
ing from yellow fever infected ports to discover
the presence OF mild or irregular cases Of the
disease, which, so far as the public health is
concerned, constitute of the most dangerous
factors with which we have to deal"