The Washington herald., 1909-01-17

Havana, Jan. l4.-Scientifc sanitation
for the purpose OF preventing epidemic
disease has achieved its most spectacu-
lar triumph In the island OF Cuba. For
centuries this island had been scourged
each year by the dreaded yellow fever.
The natives became immune. but the
immigrants were the ready prey OF "yei-
low jack" From Havana the disease
was often spread TO foreign ports. and
the southern portion Of the United States
paid dreadful toll to its progress.
American army medical officers dis
covered thai yellow fever germs wers
transmitted by a certain variety Of mos
quito. that the mosquito must bite the
patient within the first three days Of his
fever in order 10 carry the germ. and
that the ~ay TO fight yellow fever was
to destroy the MOSQUITO Under the diree-
ton OF Maj. W c. Gorgas. during the
administration Of Gen. Wood in Cuba
the war was waged reientlessly- The
way 10 fight the mosquito was 70 deprive
it OF breeding places That meant Z
clean up. Havana and the whole island
Of Cuba were secured and scrubbed Il
was cleaner than any other 44,o0o square
miles OF inhabited territory ever was
before OF since
Finally the day OF triumph came
when, in September. 1901. for the frs
time. Cuba was entirely free Of the fever
Il had existed here in epidemic form
since the days Of Ojeda and De Soto L
was believed TO be the soourge OF God
and It's absolute destruction was not be-
Heved 10 De Possibie.s In that sreat vic
tory the Americans were given the in
valuable assistance OF two famous Cubar
medical men, Dr.. Guiteras and Dr. Fin
lay. These two men know more about
yellow fever than anybody else on earth
They formulated the theories which INT
Americans tested. proved. and put intc
practice.
Under the military government Of tht
first occupation OF Cuba, the general au-
thority at Havana was supreme. and tbe
sanitary work was carried forward a.
over the island. When the Americans
left and the Cuban republic was estab-
Nshed, the system was changed and the
various municipalities were charged viii
the responsibility OF sanitary work II
Havana. supported by the national purse
the work was kept Up IN many parts
OF the island II was sadly neglected and
IN other places Il was altogether
abandoned
For nearly four years there was not q
case of fever reported from the whole
Island. Men began 10 believe that yeIiov
fever was a thing OF the past This
fsncied security induced a relaxation oi
the guard The quarantine restrictions
were not strictly enforced. and in October
1915. Two cases Of yellow fever were dis
covered in Havana II was found that
the disease had been brought from
abroad The epidemic did not assume
great proportions. Vet for twc months il
was quite serious
In the year 1906. when the Gorgas val
OF the mosquito was begun. there were
80 deaths from yellow fever in Havana
In 1gm there were only eighteen For the
next three years there was not a case
IN the whole island IN the last three
months OF 1865. there were twenty-one
deaths in Havana. IN 1906 there were
twelve. n 1877 and 1905 there was one
death for each year. Since September
g. 1905. the island has again been entirely
free from the disease.
After the reintroduced disease had been
brought under control in Havana. there