226 Master Minds of Modern Science 



been permitted to me and my assistants to lift the impenetrable 

 veil that has surrounded the causation of this most wonderful, 

 dreadful pest of humanity and to put it on a rational and 

 scientific basis. The prayer that has been mine for twenty 

 years, that I might be permitted in some way or at some time 

 to do something to alleviate human suffering, has been granted. 



Outstanding as Reed's achievement was, Ross's dis- 

 covery deserves even greater praise. To it may be traced 

 nearly all the progress made in fighting the malignant 

 fevers of the tropics. What Ross's discovery has meant 

 in those regions is made clear in a letter written to him by 

 General Gorgas, of Panama Canal fame. 



The letter is dated March 23rd, 1914, and in it General 

 Gorgas says : 



Before leaving England I wish to express to you the debt of 

 gratitude we all feel to you for the great work you have done 

 in the field of Tropical Medicine. As you are aware, malaria 

 was the great disease that incapacitated the working forces at 

 Panama before our day. If we had known no more about the 

 sanitation of malaria than the French did, I do not think we 

 could have done any better than they did. Your discovery 

 that the mosquito transferred the malaria parasite from man 

 to man has enabled us at Panama to hold in check this disease, 

 and to eradicate it entirely from most points on the Isthmus 

 where our forces are engaged. 



It seems to me not extreme, therefore, to say that it was 

 your discovery of this fact that has enabled us to build the 

 Canal at the Isthmus of Panama. 



A fine tribute, and one that was richly deserved. 



When Ross went to India as a young man he found 

 every one, even the most brilliant doctors, struggling in 

 vain with a disease which attacked millions every year. 

 They could mitigate its attacks with quinine, but they 

 could not prevent them, and they did not even know 

 where to look for the enemy. In the course of four years 



