The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-06-12

~HE germs of malaria, yellow
fever, typhus fever and small
pOX are a greater source OF
danger to the American SOL
diers entering Mexico than all the lead
en- bullets and exploding shells which
might be fired by the opposing forces.
This is the opinion Of officers Of the
medical corps Of the army and navy
and Of the United States public health
service.
Bad water has been a serious peril
confronting American troops in Next
co. Colonel L. NJ. Maus, chief surgeon
of the First division of the United
States army, which has headquarters
country would have to spend $1,OOO,-
100000 in establishing a sanitation
system there"
Although physicians and public
health authorities of Mexico have CIV
en- considerable attention to the study
of sanitation and preventive medicine,
less progress has been made in obtain
ing the cooperation Of the people in
the enforcement of health laws than
in almost any other part of the civiliz-
ed world. Many Of the Mexican peo-
pie are most Indifferent to personal
hygiene. The natives submit to at
tacks Of contagious diseases as a mat
ter of course, and many of the natives
have become immune to further at
tacks Of yellow fever and smallpox.
Surgeon Generals William c. Gorgas
of the army, William c. Braisted of
the navy, Rupert Blue of the United
States public health service and DR..
Sigismund s. GOldwater, head of the
New York state health department, be-
lieve that the progress made by the
United States in the study and proven
ton Of contagious diseases places this
government in an excellent position to
solve the health problems Of its army
and navy.
Dangerous Diseases.
American soldiers and sailors have
been vaccinated for both smallpox and
typhoid fever. Typhoid is not ~ Of
the common diseases in Mexico, but
smallpox is prevalent in many dis
tricts. Many communities have been
visited by epidemics.
Malaria is to be feared more than
smallpox, for this disease, whose germs
are carried by the mosquito, is found
in all of the warmer parts of the oun
try. A plenteous supply Of quinine
has been carried in the medical stores,
and the use Of this drug lessons the
danger Of contracting the disease.
Yellow fever and typhus fever are
both sources of danger in Mexico, yell
low fever occurring in the hot country
and typhus in the cooler plateau region.
The bite Of an infected mosquito car
ries yellow fever, and the careful
screening of living quarters is the sur
est means of prevention OF contagion
in any territory where the disease is
known to exist. Yellow fever turks in
Yucatan and throughout the country
bordering on the bay of Campeche.
Persons who have Travelled in Mex
leo have heard Of the ravages Of sta
bardillo,' pronounced "tah- bar-deeyo."
a disease called "tifo" by the natives.
This is typhus fever, Il filth disease.
which is found in Mexico City and
throughout the cooler plateau country.
The information on the disease prey
alent in Mexico. now in possession of
the government. has been gathered by
physicians who often have risked their
lives in Investigations carried on by
the public health service in various
parts Of Mexico in the last ten years.
One Of these e DR.. Joseph Gold
berger, contracted yellow fever while
engaged in an investigation and typhus