1909] on the Americans and the Panama Canal. 703 



malarial germs in the examination ; but so you do in any infected 

 mammal, reptile, bird or insect, to be found in that locality, and you 

 might as well accuse them all in turn of transmitting fever to you,when 

 you and they really got it from another and more fearsome source. 



Here is what Colonel Gorgas and the Americans have done in the 

 Canal Zone, and which is to me an infinitely greater achievement 

 than the killing of all the mosquitoes. They have cleansed the air of 

 all miasma, and they have purified the water in a most effective manner. 

 First of all, they have cleared the Zone of the semi-tropical growth 

 with its entangled vines and creepers, its putrid, stifled undergrowth 

 and decomposing vegetable matter. They have either oiled, thus 

 preventing exhalations, or drained or covered all stagnant waters ; 

 they have destroyed all decayed matter and allowed of no deconiposing 

 matter of any kind to contaminate the water or air of the Zone. Now 

 that the Zone across the Isthmus is cleared of tall vegetation, the 

 prevalent winds from Ocean to Ocean, helped by the friendly rays of 

 a powerful sun, do the rest in the way of disinfection. 



Furthermore, the Americans have hit on a practical type of build- 

 ings for the homes of their people. They have not made the common 

 mistake of tropical architects of shutting off the light and air from 

 the buildings. No : there is plenty of light streaming into all 

 the rooms, plenty of air circulating everywhere. In fact, except that 

 the people have a roof overhead, tliey are practically living out in the 

 open while in their homes. The copper-wire mesh which screens the 

 ample verandahs of every house is certainly a useful addition, because 

 many, indeed, are the troublesome insects in tropical countries besides 

 the annoying flies and mosquitoes. The pleasanter one can make life 

 the better. 



In several conversations with Colonel Gorgas, and by perusing 

 statistics in reports to his Goverimient, one learns interesting facts. 

 For instance, the sick and death rates among the employees in the 

 Canal Zone during the year (1908) compare favourably with those of 

 the healthiest parts of the United States. For a proverbially deadly 

 country this is certainly a triumph. 



When the Americans first took over the Canal in 190-1 we find 

 that with a force of 6,213 employees the death-rate per thousand was 

 13-26. In 1906, with a force of 26,705 the death-rate per thousand 

 reached as much as 41-37. In the year, 1908, with a working force of 

 43,890, the mortality per thousand was only- 13 01 ; or, in other 

 words, less than it was in 1904 with a force five times smaller. 



Particularly interesting is to notice how the death-rate among the 

 black labourers has fallen. 



In 1905, with a force of 13,482, the death-rate per thousand 



was 26-25. 

 In 1906, with a force of 21,441, the death-rate per thousand 



was 47-24. 

 In 1908, with a force of 31,507, the death-rate per thousand 

 was 12-76. 



