Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-09
METHOD Of SANITATION
AT VERA CRUZ PLANNED
Surgeon General Gorgas Maps Out
Comprehensive System Under
U. S. Army Experts.
Stamping Out of Tropical Diseases
and Purifying of Water Are
Principal Objects.

Comprehensive plans for the santa
ton of Vera Cruz to insure the health
not only of the American troops but
of the inha bitants as well have been
mapped out by Surgeon General Gorsas
of the army and will be put into effect
upon the arrival of two army sanitary
experts detailed for that purpose. The
| same methods which Gen. Gorgas used
to stamp out tropical diseases in Pan
anna will be employed, and the Medical
Corps is confident. as an officer ex-
pressed it. that Vera Cruz will be so
healthy that it won't recognize itself. "
when the task is completed.
The officers detailed are Maj. T c.
Lyster, who is now en- route and should
arrive next Monday or Tuesday. and
Maj. Robert A. Noble. who is now at
Galveston awaiting transportation.
Both have had experience in Panama.
The first step undertaken will be to es-
tablish a system for the proper dispo-
sition of sewage. unless it is found that the
present city system is adequate. The next
step will be the safeguarding of the city $
water supply and the adoption Of meth
DDS of publication. The water supply at
present from the Vera Cruz water works
now in possession Of American troops is
10000 gallons a day, and there is also
an independent supply from the railroad
yards and wells. The water from all
these sources will be analysed and there
is being shipped to Vera Cruz equipment
for publication by means of chlorine gas
and ultraviolet rays.
Campaign Against Fever.
There will be a campaign against mos
quitoes. stagnant pools and all other yell
low, typhoid fever and malaria breeding
conditions. and the inhabitants will find
themselves under strict rules Of sanitary
conduct Yellow fever fortunately has
not been prevalent in Vera Cruz in re-
cent years. There has not been a case
reported since September %, 1909.
While medical officers experienced IN
sanitation are already on the ground.
the steps contemplated comprehend the
possibility of protracted occupation or
the city. The surgeon generals de-
partment is also completing plans for
conserving the health of the troops in
the event that there is a general lnva-
sion Of Mexico. Promise is given that
there will be no repetition of the ex-
perienceS in the war with Spain When
the army was handicapped by lack Of
training and experience in camp SAM
tation and knowledge of how to deal
with tropical diseases. These plans In
clude preparations for sanitary care of
volunteer troops in case they should
be called out.
Among the volunteers" said a
medical officer today. some consid.
cradle experience exists as result OF
maneuver camps and the Spanish war
many veterans of that war being in
the militia The proportions of the
troops will, however. be from 80 to 10
per cent of the total strength as far as
experience in the field is concerned.
There will be. therefore. a considerable
force of green men to be taught camp
sanitation, as well as given military in
Struction.
Fortunately most of the officers of the
volunteers will be men who are inn
pressed with the value of sanitation in
the field They and the regular officers
and older soldiers will quickly instruct
the new men in habits essential to health
in camp.
Study of Sanitary Systems.
There exists then yeast to leaven
the whole bread that was absent in 1898.
Since that eventfuI year the officers of
the medical fena TT ent of the army have