Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-01

Washington, d. c., July 28.-The
occasional forays of Panch Villa across
the Rio Grande. are not the most dan
gerous Mexican border raids, nor the
hardest against which to defend the
country. The worst menace Is con-
tanned in the continuous stream OF
Mexican refugees who pour across the
international bridges, laden with
germs Of smallpox and typhus. The
border war which the United States
public health service Is waging against
these diseases is the most important
phase of the Mexican campaign. so
far as the protection of American
life and health is concerned.
Few persons realize the extent OF
this border immigration from northern
Mexico. About the time Of the Car
rial incident, when it looked as
though war between Mexico and the
United States was unavoidable, and
when Mexican leaders were p1acarding
the country with messages to the Mex
lean patriots about how they would
march triumphantly to Washingly,
the said atriots were crossing the
international bridges at the rate Of
nearly five thousand week. They
were not on the way to Washington,
either. Their only object was to get
out of their beloved fatherland before
the big row started.
This Mexican immigration across
the border is veritable barometer
of conditions in northern Mexico.
When things are quiet, the traffic falls
off to almost nothing. but when fight
ing starts. the desire for a change
of scene becomes widespread Which
ever Size is getting licked proceeds
ITO contribute ten or fifteen thousand
MeXicans to the population of the
border states.
Now the problem of handling this
horde Of poems, coming from country
filled with typhus and smallpox. is
one of the most difficult the quarantine
officers have ever faced. In the first
place, they had few facilities for the
work on the ground. Last December
a case of typhus was reported from
health service had a corps Of men on
the border Hundreds of gallons OF
gasoline. kerosene and vinegar were
obtained in which to battle the lousy
and reluctant peon. shower baths were
erected, steam chambers were obtain
ed from the Mexican government, and
within a few weeks fairly effective
quarantine was put into action.
This quarantine is primarily and
principally a war upon the common
louise, which is the only known carrier
of typhus This dangerous disease
has always been present upon the
Mexican plateau in the vicinity OF
Mexico City. During the war it has
been steadily carried northward by
the armies. and is now continuous
menace along the border. Every Mex
lean whose personal effects and
adornments include one or more lice is
a possible carrier of typhus. The
batting average of the louise in north
ern Mexico may be Judged from the
fact that 1850 Mexicans who were
treated at Ell Paso one week. 1900 had
to be bathed in gasoline and vinegar
to rid them of these vermin. -;
Every Mexican who crosses the line
by one of the international bridges
is inspected as a possible carrier of
typhus If he is found to be one he
prescribed by the public health SER
vice or return to his native land. A
good many go back. and none of them
seem to enjoy the disinfecting process.
In addition to taking bath in gaso-
line and vinegar they are vaccinated
and given a shower bath-the latter
a complete novelty and a good deal Of
shock to most of them.
In this way. nearly all Of those who
cross the international bridges are
pretty thoroughly disinfected; but the