NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



621 



hospital. Attached to it is the Board 

 of Health Laboratory, with its depart- 

 ments of bacteriology, pathology and 

 chemistry. The Panama Canal con- 

 tinues the splendid work of sanitation 

 begun by General Gorgas and through 

 which yellow fever and bubonic plague 

 have been eliminated from the isthmus, 

 and malaria and other tropical diseases 

 reduced to a minimum. 



In Panama City there is the new Santo 

 Tomas Hospital likewise certain to 

 become a center of medical and sanitary 

 research. Close to it, and cooperating 

 with it, is the new Gorgas Memorial 

 Institute. The establishment of this 

 whole great medical center in Panama 

 City is due to the wise and progressive 

 spirit of Doctor Belisario Porras, Pres- 

 ident of the Republic of Panama. 



The Panama Canal maintains store- 

 houses at Balboa where almost any- 

 thing can be obtained, and especially 

 in the medical section, where reagents, 

 drugs, glassware, apparatus, etc., are 

 always on hand. Screened, well-venti- 

 lated living quarters are also available, 

 averaging $9 to $10 for bachelors (one 

 room, including janitor service, electric- 

 ity, and water), to $20 to $30 per month 

 for "married" quarters. All quarters 

 are equipped with furniture and stoves, 

 but bedding, linen, silverware, china- 

 ware, cooking utensils, etc., must be 

 provided by each occupant. Excellent 

 hotel accommodations are available 

 at Colon, Ancon and Panama City. 



Restaurants are operated on the 

 Canal Zones, and good, wholesome food 

 can be obtained at very moderate cost, 

 depending on the wants of the indivi- 

 dual. It is possible to live well at 

 these restaurants for $40 to $50 a month, 

 or less. The commissaries operated by 

 The Panama Canal supply almost 

 everything needed for the home, person 

 and table. In Panama City there are 

 many very reliable stores. 



The following excerpt from a letter 

 from the Governor to Dr. David Fair- 

 child of the National Research Council, 

 dated December 14, 192.3, is of impor- 

 tance ^^ everyone contemplating a visit 



to the station for study. It indicates 

 some of the concessions which have been 

 extended to scientists at the Barro 

 Colorado Island laboratory. 



To the scientists coming here properly 

 accredited, I shall be glad to extend the 

 privileges you mention — the $50.00 rate 

 on Panama Railroad Steamers and right 

 to purchase at our commissaries. We 

 will also give them passes on the Panama 

 Railroad, and will otherwise assist them 

 in any way we can. I am satisfied that 

 the men who will be accredited by your 

 Committee will be of such type, and will 

 have such objects in view, as will fully 

 entitle them to these courtesies. 



Scientists who plan to go to the labo- 

 ratory on Barro Colorado Island must 

 first communicate with the Chairman 

 of the Executive Committee of the 

 Institute for Research in Tropical 

 America, in care of National Research 

 Council, Washington, D. C. They will 

 then receive additional information 

 and will be given the necessary cre- 

 dentials. Candidates will be given 

 preference from institutions which sup- 

 port or "maintain a table" at the Island 

 Laboratory. Exceptions may be made 

 in special cases. Collecting of unduly 

 large series, especially of vertebrates, 

 will not be permitted. The island was 

 set aside first and foremost as a Biolog- 

 ical Preserve. Generally speaking the 

 large mammals must not be disturbed. 



There are adequate facilities on the 

 island for both study and living. Or- 

 dinary native labor can be had for as 

 little as $1 per day. There is a dis- 

 tinct advantage in living on the island. 

 No time is lost in getting at once into 

 the jungle. Much important data can 

 be gathered while seated on the veranda 

 of the station building. The island is 

 reached by boat from Frijoles station. 



Special apparatus or reagents should 

 be brought by each person, and if these 

 can not be taken along in a trunk as 

 part of the baggage, which is most 

 advisable, but must be sent by freight 

 or express, then such equipment should 

 be sent at least three weeks ahead of 

 time, and the Resident Custodian at 

 Ancon, C. Z., should be notified and 



