The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-11-13
Control OF Vice.

The question of prostitution Is al
ways serious one in Vera Cruz, as
in all seaports. Immediately after
the American occupation several hun
dred women established themselves
in the segregated district and else
where in Vera Cruz. About one-half
were Mexicans. the remaining half
were French. Spanish. Cuban or Am
erican.
On July 1, the commanding Gen
eral put into effect an order deport-
ing all prostitutes not Mexicans by
birth or naturalization. II has been
found necessary for several years
past to maintain a large hospital
with about 800 beds for the treat
ments exclusively of women with
venereal diseases. In a hospital of
approximately the same size as this
for women. an average of 200 men
are being treated for the most hor-
rible forms of venereal diseases.
AS general rule. there is a great
deal of dysentery and typhoid fever
in Vera Cruz from May to August
of each year. Knowing this, the medi-
cal officers of the United States army
took the necessary steps, Immediately
after the occupation, to prevent cpl
denies of these diseases among the
American forces. The first step in
this direction was the compulsory
vaccination for smallpox of every
body. both native and foreign. with
in the American lines, as we'll as of
all people entering Vera Cruz from
the outside. After the American
forces had been in Vera Cruz one
month there were only two cases of
smallpox within the American lines,
and these ahd come in from outside
places.
The water supplies, both public
and private, were carefully investi-
gated. and all water used for drink
ing purposes was thoroughly tested
by sanitary officers of the United
water were either sealed or filled
up. and the greatest precaution was
taken to prevent the use of unpot
able water. Stagnant pools or pud
dies were drained off and filled up
and damp patches of ground. wheth-
er inside of houses or outside. were
given a heavy coating of dry earth
and gravel. People were instructed
not to use cows milk unless it had
been boiled.
The American forces were given a
plentiful supply of quinine and prac-
tically everybody that appeared at
the Red Cross headquarters was dos
ed with 1t if he showed any maarial
tendencies whatever. With puddles
and pools of stagnant water obliter-
ated. and low places which might
collect water also filled, there was
no place for malaria mosquitoes to
breed and therefore malaria disap-
peared from Vera Cruz as If by
magis.
Perhaps the most noteworthy feat
performed by the United States mill
tary officers in the way of house
cleaning was that of cleaning the
ancient and notorious fortress pris-
on of San Juan de Ulloa. in the har-
Dor of Vera Cruz. It was evident that
the fortress had never been cleaned
in its entire history of several GEN.
turtles. and the filth was indescrib-
able.
AS an illustration. there was one
large room in the interior of the
prison, with very thick stone walls
and stone roof, the only light and
ventilation of which came through
a few small Sits in the walls not ov-
er six inches wide. The room was as
dark as night and had no sanitary
arrangements of any sort. l had per-
sonally visited this prison in the
summer of 1913. At that time there
were 800 prisoners confined in that
one room. I stepped to the door, as
ii was opened few inches by the
guard. but was not at all enthusiast
tic about entering, because of the
terrible stencil and maniacal outcries
of the prisoners. The conditions were
certainly no better in April. 1914.
Tons of sulphur and other disinfec-
tants, large quantities of soap, much
steam. and many days Of hard labor
were required on the part of the Am
erican soldiers and the native labor
ers before the army sanitary officers
gave their approval of the prison.
All prisoners who were found to
he unjustly incarcerated, or confined
on merely political charges, were re-
leased at once. and only criminals.
who had been justly sentenced and
who had not finished their terms.