490 THE CONTROL OF MALARIA AND YELLOW FEVER 



carefully explained the dangers of the experiment. The volun- 

 teers said they understood the ravages of the disease but " we 

 volunteer solely for the cause of humanity and in the interest of 

 science." They asked for no compensation for their services. It 

 was a tense, dramatic moment when the Major raised his hand in 

 salute to the private, saying, "Gentlemen, I salute you I" His 

 further comment was, " In my opinion this exhibition of moral 

 courage has never been surpassed in the annals of the army of the 

 United States." Kissinger and Moran were bitten by mosquitoes. 

 They both contracted yellow fever but both recovered. After 

 studying many other cases, the investigators concluded that 

 the only way to contract yellow fever is through the bite of an 

 infected mosquito. It takes about twelve days for the parasite 

 to complete its cycle in the mosquito's body. Therefore, an in- 

 fected mosquito does not transmit the disease until about twelve 

 days after taking in the parasite from the body of an infected 

 person. 



Atii. Museum ajW'al. Hist. 



Camp Lazear, Cuba, was the experimental camp in which the yellow fever investigation was 

 conducted. It was named for Dr. Jesse W. Lazear, who died a martyr to the investigation. 



For 130 years Havana had been continuously infested with yel- 

 low fever. The average death rate from it was about 750 deaths 



