Tensas gazette., 1913-08-15

ton of infected persons in the hos
pitals helps a lot, for Of course the
mosquito cannot carry malaria until
it has bitten a malarious person.
Rats, that carry the bubonic plague,
and flies, that transmit various other
diseases. have received adequate at
tention from the sanitary depart
ment, and dumb brutes are not neg
lected. AS an instance Of the latter
fact, every horse and mule in the
zone must be placed at night in one
of a series of corrals established by
the department and there II is fed
and cared for, the owner paying a
reasonable fixed charge for the serv-
ice. These animals, II left out. often
are attacked by a disease that is in
fectious and may be transmitted to
human beings. Besides that, the ma
tive cannot be persuaded to keep his
stable In sanitary condition.
Many other sanitary regulations
are imposed on the people of the
isthmus. All garbage must be de-
posted in receptacles to be collected
by the departments wagons and
burned in its crematories. Chickens
may not be kept within a certain dis
tance of any dwelling. Rain water
may not be gathered and kept in
open receptacles. That last rule is
not easy to enforce. for the Panaman-
ian prefers rain water for drinking
purposes. But all these are for the
general good. and the United States
has the treaty right to attend to the
sanitation of Panama and Colon as
well as of the zone.
In addition to the two great hos
pitals at Ancon and Colon. the depart
ment of sanitation maintains dis
pensary with physician and nurse at
! every town along the route of the
canal and at Porto Bello. where the
commission has a big stone quarry.
The larger hospital on Ancon hill,
close to Panama, in the spring Of the
year had about 900 patients. It's
wards and the residences of the
physicians and nurses are scattered
picturesquely though rather incon-
veniently on the east and north
slopes of the beautiful hill. and the
grounds are filed with magnificent
trees and lovely Towering vines and
bushes. A little further around the
hill is the hospital for the insane.
and 1t. too. is well filed. for the Ja-
maican and Barbadian negroes go
:razy at the slightest provocation.
In Colon. stretching along the sea-
shore In the only pretty part Of that
fiat city, is the other hospital, smaller
but no less efficient and well manned
than that at Ancon. It's grounds are
swept continually by the refreshing
winds from the Atlantic and many of
its wards are built out over the wa
ter Both hospitals are served by
corps Of physicians and surgeons.
mostly rather young. but able. ambi-
tious and studious. Among them are
a number of army and navy surgeons.
These men are acquiring invaluable
experience and not a few Of them
have been called away to positions OF
great responsibility and high remun-
Grafton.
One mighty good thing the French
company did was to establish sani-
tarium on Taboga island. and the
Americans, recognizing its value,
promptly reopened It for the benefit
| of white convalescents. These may
remain on the pretty island for two
weeks. paying 50 a day for room.
board and medical attention.
Taboga lies twelve miles due south
of Panama and is as attractive trop-
ical isle as one will often see. Its
curving white beaches in little bays
are ideal bathing places; its lofty
hills, clad with dense vegetation. az
ford occupation for the climber, and
the small fishing village Of Taboga Ia
ancient and not uninteresting. Cor
geous birds and flowers and luscious
fruits are everywhere. Nothing more
perfectly beautiful can be imagined
than an evening on the grassy slopes
of the sanitarium grounds. A myriad
stars glitter overhead. the Southern
Cross and Canopus swinging above
the southern horizon. In the forest
night birds sing and variety Of tree
locust sends forth a clear. musical
note that can be heard a mile. In the
little public square Of the village the
native women and children are laugh
ing and singing as the men set fort1
on all-night fishing. trips And on TO
the north, this side Of the( glow Of
Panama, wink the light buoys of the
canals sea channel.
II in later years Taboga does not
. become a favorite winter resort for
wealthy Americans. shall miss my
guess.