New-York tribune., 1920-08-15
American Rids
Vera CruZ'Of
Bubonic Plague
DR.. Michel, Sentby Wilson to
Prevent Disease Spread
ing to U. S., Takes Charge
Of Fight for Mexicans
Collects Infected Rats
Physician Is Now Engagedin in
Mapping Out Campaign
Against Yellow Fever
By George E. Hyde

MEAlCO III I, Aug. b.-An Amer
lean destroye, crept slowly into the
bs-Aor Of Vera Cruz on July IS and
eropped anchor outside the break
water. A boat was lowered over the
side and pulled away for the wharf
Sitting in the stern sheets, dressed in
IN old Palm Beach suit much the worse
for wear, sat DIR. Carl Michel, of the
United States Public Health Service.
coming to Mexico without credentials
and withou. Official recognition to pro
tect American ports from infection
from the bubonic plague end to assist
as best he could to stamp the disease
out in Mexico
He arrived in city intensely hog
tile to American official interference.
1t had been treated to a taste of Amer
lean sanitation under the iron rule OF
military occupation in 1914 and was
not keen for a repetition of the dose
Mexican health officials considered
themselves able to handle the situation
ard were asking for no help. In fact
President de la Huerta had officially
refused the protfer of American aid
from Washington and the Mexicars
took their cue from his action.
Invited to Take Charge
DR.. Michel spent a week IN Vera
Cruz, drifting around the town unos-
tentatously; eating in little places
along the waterfront and digging into
suspicious looking holes around the
docks. Soon questions began to be
asked and a few days later he was
waited upon by committee of citizens
who requested him to take charge. This
he refused to do and it was not until
scheme for cooperation with the Mex
ican authorities had been arranged
that he consented to become the ad-
WISER OF citizens committee in the
hght A few days later he was virtu-
ally IN full control, with unlimited
money. and all the other assistance
needed
The diplomacy and tact of DR.. Michel
VIII be commented on by Mexicans for
some time to come. Gradually he was
able to win the confidence Of high and
low alike until no official pressure was
necessary to persuade Mexicans to
carry out at their own expense any
sanitary changes which were SUGGESTED
to them by the American. When Dr.
Michel arrived at Vera Cruz it was
question of whether he would be able
to stay there or not Now it is a oues-
tlon whether or not he will be able
to get away again.
Ihe hght against the plague as con-
ducted by the Nexcans followed Euro
pean lines and was devoted principally
TO lsOlatlHg the individuals who were
attacked and OF surrounding the city
with sanitary Gordon through which
Individuals passed almost at will. Lit
'le or no attention was paid to the
task OF cleaning up the sources of the
infection and Of getting rid of the
end OF the fight that DR.. Michel de-
voted his attention. From the United
States he brought trained rat trappers
de asked for one and three were sent
Efficient Force Organized
The spirit in which his fight was
carried out was indicated az his action
IN this matter Two of the rat trap
pers were Americans and one a Span
lard. He kept the Spaniard to train
Mexicans and sent the two Americans,
neither Of whom spoke Spanish, back
to the United States. The Spaniard
worked in well with the Mcxicans and
IN short order had an efficient force
out IN the field.
There was no adequate laboratory in
vera Cruz when DR.. Michel arrived,
but ne soon had one going To this all
Ta,s H. trapped were taken and .dissected
Nhen rat showed indications of the
plague, a dsinfecting crew went to
the house where it had been caught
and cleaned up the place
IN addition to his reputation as
scientist and diplomatist, DR.. Michel
acquired fame as a clairvoyant From
tnle to time he ventured predictions
relating to the course Of the plague,
snlcl. were invariably fulfilled, and
~hen he finally announced, some days
IN advance, the day when the plague
would be over, the inhabitants of
vera Cruz began their preparations to
resume business as usual. His pre-
olctlon came true.
Unfortunately the fame of DR.. Michel
mad been lost on Vera Cruz and the
nealth authorities in Mexico City were
not aware of his powers, so the people
OF Vera Cruz sent him to Mexico City
70 get their port open again. He held
a snort interview with President de la
huerta, after which plans were drawn
up TO reopen Vera Cruz to traffic.
Furthermore, two Mexican doctors
Will leave for the United States to
study health preservation and epidemic
Asntng IN its native element.
Considers Innoculation Valueless
.Dr Michel states that as result of
MS experience at Vera Cruz he is con-
vnced that the innoculation against
,ne bubonlc plague is valueless. While
MS work was not particularly con-
hected with this end of the matter, he
makes the assertion emphatcally, and
lhe people Of Vera Cruz, at least, will
take his word for it.
With the disappearance of the plague
at Vera Cruz came an outbreak of
yellow fever, ell vomito, more terrible
70 the Mexican than any other disease
because of its terrible manifestation
and IT'S sudden work, and DR.. Michel
was asked to take charge of this fight
also. This he has refused to do on
;as grounds that it is the task of the
: Mexican Federal authorities and that
ne would not interfere unasked. He
has been asked and has just drawn up
complete plan of campaign, including
Aot only yellow fever but malaria as
well. He even went so far as 70 sug-
gest the men to carry out the work,
and his suggestions have been adopted.