The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-22

others lnasmuch. however. as in some minor degree, one must fail. it is wise to pursue all courses. In the canal zone. We immediately applied ourselves i'll the 1 four directions, and in September. 1905. when We had been on the scene less than two years, the last case of yellow fever developed. There has been none since"
 pr. Gorgas went more into details in describing the fight against disease He told of how for 200 yards around all Yil- iages and towns. a perfect system of drainage was established and maintained. of how concrete ditches were dug, of how all grass was cut, and of how a house In which a case of fever devel- oped-and all contiguous houses-was fum- igated in that nestling mosquitoes might not escape to do still other damage. He i Interestingly narrated the story of how men travelling in screened cars would clear up swamps and each morning. be- fore departing for work. would search diligently within their improvised homes for any mosquito which through mo- mentarily opened doors, might have flown within the enclosure.
 Loves the Tropical Zone Dr. Gorgas gave indication that of the tropical zone he was lastingly enamoured. It was with apparent pleasure that he depicted conditions as they are today Caueasians, who formerly died or lived enfeebled. now strong, robust and capa ble of producing vrile progeny; 12,0o0 white men, 10-year residents of isthmus. wthA out sign of deterioration; situation in which by ordinary precautions and an expenditure of 1 cent per capita per day, perfect health is maintained.
 And then, after a moments hesita ton. ke abruptly abandoned the discussion of the mosquito and the disease she pro, duces, and made the following prediction which, coming from its source. was gen. erally said to be remarkable:
 The greatest change that has occurred within the history of the human race
 is taking place now. The change in so- cial conditions is evident to us all in the great European or world war that is now going on. This will make great hygienc changes.
 ''rhe construction of the Panama ca nal has been a demonstration that the white man individually can go anywhere
 in the tropics and live and produce just as easily as anywhere else in the world. Under these new conditions one horse power of labor can produce five times as much in the tropics as in the tenn perate zone.
 '"rhe changes in living conditions in the tropics by virtue of new discoveries will draw much population to these parts of the world. I believe the people of the Onlteu states ana or Europe VIII set tie in South America and will build up these great countries to the south of us as they have builded up their own eoun- tries The valleys in South America are greater in fertility than any other re- zion known to the world. 1 believe in time to come we will see a more intense civilization in these great tropical coun- tries than we now find in the temperate zone
 "T think tbiS r,oVap,arf to tl,a tronioc is commencing now and will affect the southern states first: not so much in drawing our population but in building up business there. l am inclined to think that the great Gulf of Mexico and the Carribean sea will be to the south what the Mediterranean is to Europe; that we civilized people of the northern coast will profit greatly by traffic with the peoples of the southern coast.
 Alabama and the southern states gen erally will be the first to profit by this great change that l predict"