Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-05


persons were taken frorp the wrecked
theatcr in Washington to the Walter
Reed Hospital. WAS one of Nirginia's
sons who reached the apex OF fame
IN travelling the hard road OF pow
eFty and experience after having dis
covered the carrier of the typhoid
and yellow fever germs.
During the spanish American War
the camps throughout the country
were devastated by typhoid fever and
Major Reed was selected To head a
tohrd To study the situation. This
task occupied more than year. but
with the creates, patience and ac-
curacy the details Of hundreds of
cases wcr" grouped ana studied 1t
was learned that the fever was
spread through the camps hv the
common hy. and by contact with pa
TENTS ana infected articles. clothing
and utensils, as well as by contami-
mated drinking water.
Iiendrd InvrsiIuatinx Board.
In June. 1900, Major Reed went to-
Cuba NJ president OF a board TO study
the infectious diseases OF the coun-
Try. especially with reference TO yell
low fever. which at frequent periods
devastated the country and spread
into other localities Many o! the
Southern cities Of the United States
suffered At times by its inroadB Eff
forts To stop u1 disease mad proven
futile. Modern sanitation had been
rcsortcd to. but 40 FAR az yellow fever
was concerned there seemed no i'm.
provcment. Major Reed WAS certain.
that Tx" typhoid and the ny. the
yellow fever germ must bc spread by
an insect.
For three months the commission
gave It's entire attention TO the study
of blood Of yellow fever patients and
tie post mortcm examination OF or
gans OF those dying with the disease.
In 'wrnty-fOur cases where the blood
was examined and In eleven autop-
sicS no specific cause OF the disease
was found. AZ the instance OF Major
Reed. after many experiments. non
immune subjects were called FOR.
Many soldiers Of the American army
h"coiCany volunteered 10 risk their
Ives in the cause Of acicncc
Before arrangements had been COM
pl"ted for tn" experiments, Dr. Carol
member of tn. commits sion. allow cd
himself 10 he bitten by inosruito
that had filled itself with blood Of
a yellow fever patient twelve DAYS
before ~" suffered scvcrc attack,
but recovered Dr. I.azear was bitten
= III u L.
No other fatalities occurred
"Cnmp Ln,rnr" E.tnbIi.h-d.
a camp was established for the ex-
perincnts and named Camp I.azear."
In memory Of the dead physician.
Accurate records were kept and every
care taken IN the experiments TO cX-
clude cStraneouS angles. and IL WAS
finally seen that the mosquito Was
the prime mover in the transmission
Of tho disease. Attempts were unsuc-
ccssfu!ly made 10 infect individuals
by means OF bedding. clothing and
other art iClcs
Through this discovery the suppress
sion OF tn" dread disease appeared
comparatively easy. The elimination
"f the mosquito was che main OBJ
Jcct OF the Investigators. and this
has been accomplished. With few
exceptions. and those. only where
some of the mosquitoes creep into
existence. there have been no epi-
denies OF yellow fever in recent years.
yellow fever is. in fact. going into
the discard. and rs practical climina-
ton is due TO the study and the art
OF observation and scientific applica-
ZION OF DR.. Walter Reed. whose mon~
ment stands In the nations capital,
IN inc shape OF hospital OF intcrna-
tionhl reputation.
Dr. Reeds success came from long
ana tirclcss hours OF cndcavor. He
never watched the clock He never
thought of rest until the particular
task which he had set himself to do
had been accomplished.
Ranks With Grent Scientists.
or the many years or Walter Reeds
Industrious life, twelve only were
spent IN the study Of the special
branch in which he became famous.
-
OF Jenver, Lister and Others as
among the bcncfactors of humanity.
he was born in Gloucester County.
Va. September IL. 1881. His famiIv's
circumstances were modest and some
of the years OF his loyhood were
spent In much troubled section Of
the south during the War Between
Nec states.
He acquired good preliminary
education. however. and at an age
Whch most boys arc still in the
school room, he began the study of
medicine at the University of vir-
Einia. graduating az NJ. y. in 1865. at
the age of IL. y second degree was
conferred later 10y bellevue Medical
College, New York. and then came
service in the Brooklyn City Hos
pital and the City Hospital on Black
wells Island Or. Reed was n DIS
trict physician in New York CITY
before he was 81, and at %, was one
OF the Ave inspectors OF the board OIL
health OF Brooklyn.
He entered the army of the United
States as assistant surgeon with the
rank OF first lieutenant i'm 1873, and
for the next eighteen years he met
with the varying fortunes of young
medical officer of the army. lie
was transferred from station TO sta
ton. and was always recognized as
an agreeable and sympathetic fricnn
ny the men Of his own age. and by
others as an intelligent and carnes,
physician, whose industry and sing
ularly fine judgment, gave promise
OF n brilliant future
Messenger of Healing
LIT. Reed was always a messenger
or healing and comfort in the cabins
or the poor and the sparcely settled
districts, where his duties called. He
was called from the army post by set
tiers for miles around. To this OK
perience much of the success of the
physician of later years is due. lie
became master of self-reliance and
ne formed the art OF quick and nc
curate observation. His army service
and his contact with the wretcbcd
and rugged In life, together win his