The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-07-13
TRANSMITS DISEASE.
That Mosquito Carries Yellow Fever
Il an Established Fact.
s.rurislnR That the Theory Wa Not
MA Upon Long Ag0-QuaraA-
tiue Method VIII Probably
BE Modified.

0100 - ~ OOo " 10 sVN~~s3
BE Modinsd.
The yellow fever symposium OF the
American Public Health association
was most interesting contribution
TO sanitary science on many points
convincing to the laity. A disease
which caused America many thou
sands of lives and many disturbing
panics in the past was stripped OF
most Of its horrors and shown to he
one Of the most easily controlled and
protected against. When we read
from the history of yellow fever the
thousands of theories advanced in re-
gard to it, the wonder is that the re-
cent discoveries made Of the trans
mission Of the disease by mosquitoes
was not stumbled on long ago, says
the New Orleans Times Democrat.
For years the question whether
quarantine did or did not keep the
fever out of country was discussed,
and at different times the quarantine
lists and anti-quarantinists were ION
top" The commission appointed in
1853 to investigate the epidemic of
that year was doubtful on most
points. and was convinced on only
one. that the disturbance of the
earth, excavations during the sum-
mer, tended to cause the spread OF
the disease, and as result of this
report nearly all public improve
ments were seriously handicapped.
The rats were looked on with suspi-
cion, then filth, decaying vegetation.
an excessive rainfall. the water sup
J ply, and dozen other causes we're
cited for the disease In many cases
these theories were apparently sup
ported by the prevailing conditions,
but another year the conditions
changed and theories formerly up
held and apparently built upon rock
were completely shattered.
1t seems strange, considering how
often and how carefully the subject
was investigated, that the recent dis
coveries in regard to the mosquito
and yellow fever we're not made.
There were some vngue hints on this
point, but nothing to attract general
attention or bring about the accept
ance Of the mosquito theory by ply
sicians and sanitarians. Yet as soon
a. this idea was advanced it was seen
that. alone of all the theories. it
filed every condition of the diseas C
and explained every apparent peculi.
arity about it.
The discussion before the Ameri-
can Public Health association fully
confirmed what has already been said
on this subject. The matter is no
longer theory, but an established
fact, us thoroughly demonstrated as
any scientific question has ever been.
Practical experiments made in half
dozen different localities all
brought the same result. and micro
scopy explained and proved them.
The convention was unanimous on
the point that the mosquito could
and did transmit yellow fever from
a person affected by it to another
Doctors from Cuba and Mexico
agreed with the physicians Of this
country. and the evidence was s.
overwhelming that no one who has
Investigated the matter can longer
entertain a doubt.
This makes protection against the
fever far simpler than we have ever
thought it to be. and does away with
the complicated. expensive, and often
brutal quarantine systems which
have frequently been resorted to in
the past. The humiliation of the
mosquitoes in community would as.
sure it complete immunity if MOSQUE
toes are the sole means of transmit
ting the disease; or if this annihila
ton be impossible, an ordinary mos
quito bar for the person sick of vel
low fever, so as to prevent the mos
quitoes from getting at him, and thu.
becoming infected and the source Of
danger to Others. il the simple pro
lection needed.
, 1t will be noted that on one poin
the members Of the association wer,
not fully agreed. All accepted tn,
mosquito theory. that the insec
could transmit yellow fever. A ma
, 1ority were of the opinion that tn,
I disease was transmitted only in thi,
why, but the minority, while unab),
, to produce any very strong evidenc,
? to the contrary, refused to accep
that proposition and favored tn.
! Scotch verdict, mot proven" I,
other words, while the evidence ;
strongly and, indeed. convincinrlv i,
} favor of the mosquito theory, it doe
. not prove that the disease cannot h
t propagated by fomites or in othe
[ ways.
, To a lay mind this conclusio,
: seems to be a prudent il not a cor
; rect one. 1t Il not pretended TIM
, the mosquito creates or generate
, the disease. but simply that it trans
mits II from one person to another
The origin of the fever is. there fore
due to some other cause. and It wou,,
seem that this cause which ORIG;
nally produced it may produce |;
! again. 1t would seem wise. there
fore, not to go too far, not to abnn
don all the safeguards of ounrap
tine, but to keen up nm inves+;ro+ a..