The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-24
PERIL IN GERMS THAT INVEST MEXICO Even Greater Danger to Sol dier Than Bullets and
 Shells

If the United States army should
 have to enter upon a long drawn out
 campaign in Mexico, the germs of ma laria, yellow fever, typhus fever and
 smallpox would be a greater source of of danger to the American soldier than all the leaden bullets and exploding shells which might be fired by the op- posing forces, says Washington spe- cial to the New York Times. This is the opinion of officers of the medical corps of the army and navy and of the United States public health service. Although physicians and public health authorities of Mexico have given considera ble attention to the study of sanitation and preventive medicine, less progress has been made in obtaining the co-operation of the people in the enforcement of health laws than in all most any other part of the civilized world Many of the Mexican people are most indifferent to personal hygiene. The natives submit to attacks of con- tagious disease as matter of course, and many of the natives have become immune to further attacks of yellow | fever and smallpox.
 Surgeons General William c. Gorgas, | of the army. William c. Braisted, of the navy, and Rupert Blue, Of the | United States public health service, be-
 
 United States in the study and preven- | tion of conta gious diseases places this igovernment in an excellent position to solve the health problems of it's army and navy.
 1 American soldiers and sailors have | been vaccinated for both smallpox and 1 typhoid fever Typhoid is not one of | the common diseases in Mexico. but smallpox is prevalent in many districts Many communities have been visited ! by epidemics.
 1 Malaria, in case of an invasion of Mexico would be feared more than smallpox. for this disease. whose germs are carried by the mosquito, is found | in all the warmer parts of the country A plenteous supply of quinfne, if the army should advance, would be car
 fried in the medical stores, and the use | of this drug would lessen the danger of
 contracting the disease.
 l Yellow fever and typhus fever are both sources of danger in Mexico, vel
 low fever occurring in the hot country and typhus in the cooler plateau re-
 gion The bite of an infected mos-
 quito carries yellow fever, and the
 careful screening of living quarters is tKe surest means of prevention of con ltagion in any territory where the dis ease is known to exist Yellow fever turks in Yucatan and throughout the
 tropical country, bordering on the Bay
 of Campeachy. There is possibility
 of it's occurrence at Vera Cruz al times
 | Persons who have travelled in Mexico
 have heard of the ravages of "tabar' ldillo" pronounced "tah- bar deeyo. disease called "tifo" by the natives
 This is typhus fever, filth diease
 which is found in Mexico City ant throughout the cooler plateau country | The principal method of guardin' against the disease Is to keep ava,
 from unclean places and persons | The physicians of Mexico caution for
 eigners against getting in crowds ant permitting their clothing to brusl Iagainst that of natives on the streets. | In the event that the army shoul
 advance into Mexico scores of sur geons and physicians of the army ant navy medical corps would work ever,
 day of the campaign to keep the mel
 in health. The law empowers tn