Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-11-20
Mrs. Co|quitt Advocates
Panamdzing Texas

Panama with the Governor, be-
lieves that Texas should be Pana-
maized along sanitary lines. In
an interview yesterday, Mrs.
Colquitt said:
The Governor and | were,
very naturally, much interested
in the sanitary miracle which
has been wrought at Panama.
The Isthmus has been the UNI
healthiest spot in the world, the
breeding ground for yellow fever
and malaria; typhoid fever, dys-
EMERY, and other tropical dis.
eases were very common. Moth
ing is known of the death rate
before the French undertook to
build the canal, but the annual
death rate during the eight years
they were at work was 24O per
thousand. The City of Colon,
with population of ten thousand
has a cemetery with one hun
dred and sixty seven thousand
graves.
yellow fever has been stamp
ed out. Typhoid fever and dys-
entery are almost eliminated.
Malaria is almst controlled. The
death rate per thousand is only
seven and one-half among the
canal employees, and less than
three per thousand among the
white American employees, a
lower rate than any other part OF
the world. / was told that one
per cent per day per man ex-
pended for the prevention of dis
ease worked the miracle.
Colon and Panaman are now
sanitary cities. The houses are
built well off the ground, are
well ventilated, and are carefully
screened to protect against mos
quitoes. Sanitary pluming and
sewer systems have been in
stalled. Pure water in abun-
dance is supplied. Rigid obser.
vance Of the sanitary ordinance
and of quarantine is required
a great modern hospital has been
built with up-to date equipment.
| should be proud of Texas if we
had many such hospital through
out the State.
The sanitary work in the int
rior has been as thorough as in
the cities. Lakes and swamps
have been drained when posi-
BILE. All that could not be drain
ed are covered with oil so that
mosquitoes can not breed. The
Jungle has been cut back from
the towns or stations, so that the
mosquito can find no resting
place. Each station and tow has
pure water supply and proper
sewerage disposal. Rats and
other vermin have been Destroyed
A thousand minor details of
sanitary work has been done.
And it all cost one cent per day
per man.
The marvellous results in
Panama and the tremendous diff
ference in the death rates during
the French and the American
occupation mark the advance
ment in sanitary science during
the last generation. What has
been accomplished there can be
done in every city, county and
state in America, if we will but
spend the money for the work.
If America were Panamaized
we would have the LOO lives
now sacrificed daily through
deaths from preventable diseas-
es. If Texas were Panamaized,
we should prevent more than
1000 deaths per month from
communicable diseases.
"One of the first things TO be
done in Texas is the building Of
a sufficient number Of county
houapitals 70 care adequately
for the sick. Our Public Health
Association estimates that / 900
hospital beds are needed before
we can say that we have " no un-
cared for sick" in Texas. Hos
pitfalls are absolutely necessary
in the work TO stamp out com.
municable disease.
Before leaving on my trip, |
had completed plans for the 1913
Red Cross Christmas Seal Cam
paign. Three million Seals We're
sent as by the National Red Cross
Society, and two million have
already been sent 10 cities and
towns OF the state. We hope to
realize So, 600 from the sale this
year so that we may continue
our work 10 secure county hos
pitfalls for our own rick, rnd Fed
eral hospitals for consumptive
strangers in the Southwest 10
start the public health educa.
tional exhibit on trip through
out the State. and To maintain
our hospital for children with
bone tuberculosis at Galveston. ~