The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-09-11

former. The habits and necessary en-
VirOnment Of the inhabitants of India
are especially favorable to the mos
quito. The population OF cities is in
tensely cOngested, and even the peas
antry lies in contracted villages Pri-
vate wells are comparatively few and
storage Of water in or about dwellings
is generally necessary. The main sup
ply OF large areas OF the country is de
rived from stagnant tanks. The greater
part OF India experiences no tempera b.
ture sufficiently low to suspend the &C
tivities of mosquitoes. a large proper
ton or the population is habitually
naked save for a loin cloth. and employ
no protective measures against the in
sect.
The task OF sanitation in the regions
heretofore subject TO yellow fever has
been simple and easy compared with
what IL would be in Asia. Success has
attended the Efforts to such an extent s
to indicate that without great difficulty
the disease might be completely and
permanently stamped out in the course
OF few years But IL ft is once intro
duced to the Asiatic mainland it will
never be eNtirpated and will remain n
constant menace to the world at large.
waving the question OF cost. which
would be enormous. TO institute the
conditions necessary to the eradication
Of the disease would be practically inn
possible in oriental countries.
That this menace Is a serious one is
the opinion OF most of the experts who
have given thought 70 the subject. Sir
Patrick Manson, who Is Acknowledged
to be one OF the greatest authorities OF
the world In this particular field. re-
Gently said in a public address. My
BELIEF is that n precautions are not
taken I'm time both these diseases. vel
low fever and malaria. will extend their
range. that with the opening OF the
Panama canal and by the repeated pas
sage or rapid steamers across the Pa
cific, yellow fever will be introduced
into the Sandwich islands CHawaiD.
Manila and 20 the continent OF Asia"
The work Og sanitation has been so
thoroughly performed at Panama as to
warrant the belief that yellow fever can
never again make "a settlement on the
isthmus. provided present precautionary
measures are maintained. Sporadic out
breaks must. however. be expected so
long as the territOy IS in communica-
ton with countries which. are free OF
the disease. Such outbreaks will doubt
less be quickly suppressed. but after the
opening Of the canal every case Of vel
low fever I'm the zone must necessarily
involve the danger OF transmitting the
disease TO countries at present free
from il.
The experience OF our surgeons In
Havana and Panama has demonstrated
the praCtiCability OF eternallv Danish
ing yellow fever from the earth in the
scientific sanitation to the entire re-
gion subject to its visitations The
only obstacle 20 such a course is found
in the Indifferent attitude Of the coun-
tries in which the work must be carried
out Their populations are more or less
immuse to yellow fever. and their COM
merce so insignificant that the detri-
mental effects Of quarantine are OF lit
tie consequence to them. Furthermore.
the small republics, which are the prin-
cipal seats Of the disease. declare that
their revenues are unequal to The eN-
pense OF the proposed sanitation.
However. the matter Is one OF such
intimate concern to the United States
that IL cannot afford TO allow 81 70 rest
in the present condition. As the creator
OF the agency through which this grave
danger threatens the orient. the Amer
lean government has incurred an IN
avoidabl obligation to make every Of
fort to remove the menace. Action is
prompted not only by the demand OF
duty, but also bn considerable OF self
interest. If the canal region remains
subject 70 the introduction Of yellow
fever its traffic must suffer in conse-
quence.
Tho opinion is expressed by experts
that. with concerted action on the part
Of all the governments interested. yell
low fever can be entirely eradicated
from the American continent and the
adjacent islands IN two or three years
time. Combined Effort will not only
hasten the result. but will also render
its accomplishment much less expensive
than 70 would be otherwise. 1t would
obviate the necessity of separate ad-
ministrative machinery in each affected
country. Colonel GOrRas. the chief san
itary officer OF the canal zone. has de-
viscd an admirable plan or organiza-
tiOn for joitn use. His suggested corps
OF experienced surgeons. inspectors.
etc. would be mobile and available for
service at any time. as necessity might
arise. An outbreak OF yellow fever
anywhere would he promptly sup
pressed and the scene OF it put in a con-
dition Of preventive sanitation. The
adoption OF such measures would. most
assuredly. result in completely wipinE
out yellow fever before the date OF the
opening Of the Panama canal.