Evening star., 1914-04-26
HEALTH Of THE TROOPS
IS SERIOUS PROBLEM
Sanitary Measures Necessary in
Mexico Should Invasion be
Ordered.
Yellow Fever and Smallpox Among
the Diseases Which Menace
q. s. Forces.

Yellow fever is the great menace to the
welfare Of soldiers and sailors of Uncle
Sam unacclimated and with prospect of
misunderstanding conditions on Mexican
soil. The public health service is pre-
pairing to cope with prospective condi-
tions-to provide adequate sanitation
their possible course Of march and at
places where they may be garrisoned or
encamped.
Yellow fever has been prevalent in
Mexico. especially in the coast Cities
since last December. Typhus results
from the failure of ordinary sanitation in
small towns where unsettled conditions
have followed in the wake Of civil war,
United States soldiers may be guarded
from this scourge.
Problems Under Consideration.
DIR. Rupert Blue, surgeon general, and
DR.. W. C. Rucker. assistant surgeon gen
eral. of the public health service. are
wrestling with these problems. They are
in consultation with the medical depart
ments of the army and navy. preparing
to undertake the problems Of sanitation
that may arise.
The public health service is well
equipped with material to undertake the
sanitation of Mexican cities. On the
roster of the services are many surgeons
immune to yellow fever and expert in
tropical sanitation. in diagnosis. and all
that makes for necessary efficiency.
Service in the Panama Canal Zone, in
Cuba and In the Philippines brought wide
experience to men who have done a
pioneer work for all the world In bring
n conditions n n
conditions that foster disease.
Mexican Reports Inadequate.
The current health reports from Mex
leo are inadequate to show the health
situation. Unsettled conditions make it
impossible to collect the desired detail
ed information. Thus there are reports
of only two deaths and two cases of
yellow fever. both from Merida, between
December q and April II. and none in
the week ending April "a. This is well
known not to represent actual condi-
tions- During the week just ended there
were fourteen deaths and thirty-seven
cases of smallpox reported from four
places in Mexico-Mexico City, Acapulco
Chihuahua and Manzanillo. Since De-
cember n. 1913. reports Of smallpox
have been terrifying, with an epidemic
at Cruz. 112 deaths at Aguacalientes.
II at Durango. So at Tampico, 46 at
Guadalajara. % in Mexico City and many
others, scattered throughout the repub-
lie. There are no figures on plague and
cholera conditions.
Two surgeons OF the public health
service have been dispatched with the
Atlantic fleet. As Americans are in con-
troll Of yeru Cruz, these experts will un-
doubtedly be assigned to the sanitation
of that port. All the public health quar-
antine stations in the United states have
been thrown open for the care Of
wounded and Ill sailors and soldiers who
may be brought to them.
Provision for ouarantining.
There are plans to make quarantine
stations wherever Americans may land
on the coast Of Mexico. at stated inter
walls; to care for refugees and to under
take local sanitation measures. These
plans will be carried into effect only with
the development of the military pro-
gram.
The question may sooner or later arise
whether it will not be preferable to move
the American forces from low coast
cities such as Vera Cruz. up ON the
tableland. where health conditions may
be more favorable to the unacchmated
sailors and soldiers. This is considera-
ton that has not been entirely resolved
by health experts. and il remains to be
settled whether the higher altitude will
prove to have more healthful conditions.
Grave Danger Foreseen.
The gravest danger Is from the failure
| of local sanitary conditions in smaller
communities with the resulting evils
communicating to larger places. Inabil-
| ity to obtain water, with the result Of de-
creased personal cleanliness. is bound TO
| bring about an infection of body para
! sites in a climate like Mexico. or any
| where in the world. and these parasites
are known to be great spreaders of ty-
| nhus This is the enemy TO be met by
sanitation that will provide general bath
ing facilities.