The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-10-16
Number Death

Colonel Gorgas found in the early
years Of canal work that the Ameri-
cans and Europeans were three times
AZ healthy as the natives of the tropics.
who. as Chief Engineer Stevens noted
In 1905, ''nre supposed to be immune
from everything, but who as u matter
OF fact are subject to almost every
thing" This somewhat upsets the
theory that northern races cannot live
readily In tropical climates.
Several of the annual reports of the
sanitary department have noted tho
remarkably few diseases peculiar to
men, such as alcoholism, etc.
Allowance must be made in consider
ing the favorable health showing on
the isthmus to the fact that the en-
ployees In one sense are picked men.
They must be in sound condition when
employed and usually In the prime Of
lifc Another thing that has kept the
death rate down among the Americans
has been the practice Of returning to
the United States many patients who
apparently had not long to live Thus
their deaths were not charge against
| the canal zone.
| It cannot be assumed thnt NIL the
deaths from disease In the canal zone
were from causes that originated
there. The diseases peculiar to the
tropics have not claimed as many vic
Tins among the Americans as the dis
esses peculiar to the northern climates.
But there has been steady improve
ment, rs may be noted In fall In tho
death rate among the Americans from
814 per 1000 In 1907 to s. IA per 1000
In 1911.
/ An incident In the sanitary govern
ment OF the isthmus was an executive
order by President Taft. effective on
Dec II. 1911. which prohibited the
practice Of any system Of therapeutics
nr healing that the sanitary depart
meHt, the allopathic school, should rule
against The president upon its possi-
BILE application to create monopoly Of
fhealing In the canal zone being point
ed out to him revoked the order on
Jan. ]. 1912.
Employees ure not permitted to re-
main In their homes and quarters
when sick. hut must go to the Colon
or Ancon hospital unless the district
physician expressly rules otherwise.
The hospital grounds at Ancon are
beautiful, and convalescent patients
are sent to Taboga island. ten miles
out In Panama bay. for final treat
ment. A dairy with RS cows supplies
fresh milk to the Ancoa hospital
At frst Colonel G0rgas was not II
member Of the isthnian canal commits.
sion. But the extraordinary ability he
displayed resulted in the separation of
the sanitary department from the ju-
risdiction OF the governor OF the canal
zone. and on Feb. %. 1907. Colonel
Gorgas was made member Of the
commission. with the department Of
sanitation having equal dignity with
other grand divisions Of the work. lie
Il the only o6iciai Of the highest rank
who has been with the canai projcc,
from Its earliest days TO the present
The cost Of the sanitary conquest Of
the isthmus to July !, 1918. was the
somewhat impressive total Qf $4,000.
600. Here. as In the pay and treat
ment OF employees. the government
has sought results without regard Z
the expense. For the remaining day
OF the canal the cost Of sanitation vii
be approximately $2.500OoO. Or SIT.
! 100000 In al by Jan. /. 1914. whicl
amount Is nearly $3,OOO,OO0 less thai
; the cost estimated for the department
in 1908.
When the ordinary cleanliness
J which the American OF the Europen
Z |is accustomed is observed In the trol
/ ics and II intoxicants are not permi
1 ted TO dominate the individual III
there will not be the slightest din
: ouiky Ii living near the equator.
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