GORGAS — NOBLE. 623 



On March 4, 1915, he was made a major general and received the 

 thanks of Congress for service as chief sanitary officer of the Panama 

 Canal. 



When the war was declared by the United States against Ger- 

 many, there were but five officers, including General Gorgas, on duty 

 in the office of the Surgeon General and about 85 clerks. The force 

 was expanded to more than 200 officers and 1,800 clerks. The de- 

 partment twice outgrew the quarters assigned and was obliged to 

 move. These moves were accomplished without confusion and with 

 but little delay in the routine of the department. 



During the war all demands were met, all requisitions rilled, a 

 gigantic task accomplished with the minimum delays and maximum 

 efficiency. General Gorgas went to France in the fall of 1918, was 

 present at the battle of St. Mihiel, visited other battle fields, and 

 inspected hospitals and sanitary arrangements of the American Ex- 

 peditionary Forces. 



He was retired on October 3, 1918, having reached the statutory 

 age limit. 



He then associated himself with the International Health Board 

 of the Rockefeller Foundation, of which he was a permanent direc- 

 tor. With the board he was director of the yellow fever commission. 

 He spent the greater part of his time in Central and South America, 

 fighting for the elimination from the world of this disease, the ac- 

 complishment of which is in sight, there being at this time but few 

 centers where the disease is either endemic or epidemic. On May 8 

 last General Gorgas sailed from Quebec for England and Belgium, 

 intending in June to go to the West Coast of Africa to investigate 

 past epidemics of yellow fever and to study such cases as might be 

 present at the time of his visit. 



He was in Belgium from May 20 to 29 for the purpose of inter- 

 viewing the Belgian authorities about his proposed visit to the Bel- 

 gian Congo. He also had an audience with the King of the Belgians, 

 who takes a keen interest in all matters pertaining to health, and 

 especially to tropical sanitation. 



During this time the Royal Institute of Public Health (British) 

 was in session, and the institute at this meeting bestowed upon Gen- 

 eral Gorgas the Harbin medal, awarded for achievements in public 

 health. He returned to England on May 29. On the morning of the 

 31st began his last illness. He was a patient in the Queen Alexandra 

 Nursing Home for Superior Officers. While sick in hospital he was 

 visited by the King, who invested him with the Cross and Star of 

 Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. 



General Gorgas died at 1.35 a. m., July 4, 1920. 



