CHAPTER VII 



HEALTH AND SANITATION 



Natural healthfulness of the island. Ordinary diseases due to tropical 

 situation. Epidemics and yellow fever. Hygienic precautions and 

 suggestions. 



BEING within the tropics, Cuba is naturally subject to 

 the diseases peculiar to theni, such as malarial, bil- 

 ious, and intermittent fevers, and liver, dysentery, and 

 stomach complaints, the latter being chargeable more to 

 indiscretion than climate, however. It is naturally more 

 healthful than any of the other islands, with perhaps the 

 exception of Jamaica. Unfortunately, these superior 

 natural advantages are offset by the sanitary conditions 

 of the cities, the death-rate, which is the best index as a 

 rule, being entirely too large. According to Chaille, " the 

 actual sanitary condition of the principal ports of Cuba is 

 very unfavorable, since in recent years their death-rates 

 have ranged from 31.9 to 66.7 per 1000." The annual death- 

 rate of Havana, estimated from the best attainable sources, 

 was found by Chaille to be 36.3 per 1000 ; of Guanabacoa, 

 39.8; of Marianao, 39.5. The sanitary condition of the 

 inland towns is very little, if at all, better than that of the 

 seaports. "The high death-rates of Guanabacoa and of 

 Marianao are especially notable, because these suburban 

 towns, within three and six miles of Havana, are summer 

 resorts, and enjoy, especially Marianao, a high repute for 

 salubrity." 



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