WALTER REED 4O9 



of the disease is through the bites of mosquitoes of the genus 

 Stcgomyia. Also that the mosquito cannot transmit the disease 

 immediately after having filled itself with blood from a yellow- 

 fever patient, but that a " period of incubation" of ten days or 

 more is required before it becomes dangerous as an agent for 

 the transmission of the disease. 



This demonstration furnished the necessary basis for preven- 

 tive measures, which have been applied with entire success in 

 the city of Havana. Major Reed's scientific investigations have 

 therefore been of inestimable value to mankind. 



Prof. William H. Welch, of Johns Hopkins, said in a letter 

 to the Secretary of War : 



" Dr. Reed's researches in yellow fever are by far the most 

 important contributions to science which have ever come from 

 an army surgeon. In my judgment, they are the most valuable 

 contributions to medicine and public hygiene which have ever 

 been made in this country with the exception of the discovery 

 of anaesthesia. They have led and will lead to the saving of 

 untold thousands of lives." 



Major Reed's death occurred on November 22, 1902, as a 

 result of an acute attack of appendicitis. 



George M. Sternberg. 



