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

eradication to a comparatively easy
matter. in "a few years Havana, which
had been during a century and hall
one OF the principal centers Of yellow
fever, was entirely freed from IL. A
similar result was secured In the canal
zone. where case of the disease has
not originated in the past four years
Notwithstanding the fact that many
thousands OF non-immunes have en-
tered the territory during that period
The cause Of yellow fever Is thor
Oughly well understood. and the most
effective methods Of prevention have
been asCertained. a certain kind OF
mosquito contracts the virus OF yellow
fever by feeding on a human being af-
flicted with the disease. The insect
may then transfer the infection to any
n0n-immuue person by merely biting
him. only one species OF mosquito
the stcEomyia-ts capable of these
functions. and by this process only is
yellow fever communicated. Two fac
tors are essential to its propagation
a yellow fever victim and a yellow Re-
yer mosquito. Neither alone can be
A single insect is capable Of infect
ing an unlimited number OF beings and
OF exercising its malignant activity
over course Of eight weeks. and prob
ably longer under favorable cirCum-
stances. The chief means Of proven
ton are the segregation Of victims,
and the removal or destruction or the
insects breeding places.
One Of the most pronounced results
Of the Increased facilities for travel
and the freer movement OF populations
I'm modern times has been the spread
and transplanting Of diseases formerly
confined TO restricted areas. Several
virulent tropical diseases are still geo
graphically limited, and yellow fever
is one OF these. Hitherto Il has &C
Cured only in the continents OF Ameri-
ca. with their appertaining Islands,
and the west coast OF Africa. This lin
itation has been favored by the Condt-
e
been practically no direct communica-
tion between the parts OF the world
in which yellow fever is established
and those in which IL might take foot
hold. f introduced. Vessels have car
ried victims of the disease from the
Atlantic shores OF South America and
the Gold coast 60 European countries
without evil consequences. because the
Of the Infection does not exist. in
those countries Up 60 the present time
communication between South America
and Asfatic regions has been only by
opening OF the Panama canal will. how
ever. bring about different conditions.
Steamships will go directly from the
yellow fever belt to the philippines,
Hawaii and New Zealand. The steE-
omvia. which hibernates on oc-
castor would readily survive such voy-
ages and those OF twice the length
us OF yellow fever may without any
difficulty be introduced TO these "a
cifiC islands, in any OF which they
would survive and probably thrive.
The spread Of the scourEe TO the con
tinental mainland would follow rapidly
and certainly. Here myriads or ste
EOmyia exist innOCuOus at present. but
ready 60 become deadly as soon as
brought within reach Of the ContaEion
for which they have an affinity.
The mind shrinks from the cOntcm-
pIation Of the fearful results that must
follow the Introduction Of yellow fever
among the many millions Of peculiar
~ susceptible people In China and In
dia. Let us consider the case OF the
latter country. in which the conditions
do not differ greatly from those In the