1909] on the Americans and the Panama Canal. 707 



on board ship they are transported to a screened ward where stego- 

 myia cannot get at them. At all the hotels the law requires arriving 

 guests to register ; also the law requires a compulsory report of sus- 

 pected yellow fever cases by physicians. Any physician or other 

 person reporting a suspected case of yellow fever, that turns out to 

 be a case of yellow fever, receives a reward of fifty dollars. The 

 non-immune population in the Canal Zone all live in screened quarters, 

 and special care is taken in districts where non-immunes live to get 

 rid of stegomyia. In fact, the stegomyia destruction work is so 

 thoroughly carried out that they are almost extinct in the Canal Zone 

 at the present time. The greatest danger, according to local doctors, 

 lies where light or unrecognised cases of yellow fever occur, so that 

 the patient is not confined to his bed, but travels about and infects 

 stegomyia in various localities. These, in turn, are supposed to infect 

 other persons at a later period. There is an ordinance enforced in 

 the Zone which authorises the Chief Sanitary Officer or his represent- 

 ative to fine persons who allow stegomyia to breed in containers on 

 their premises. Where rainwater has to be used, or where water is to 

 be stored, the house owners are required to keep the top of the barrel 

 screened so that mosquitoes cannot find access, and the water must 

 only be drawn from the barrel by means of a tap. Eave troughs are 

 not allowed, nor is trash allowed to collect near or about houses. 

 Vegetation near houses, that might hide water containers, is removed, 

 and the interiors of houses are constantly inspected. 



Great attention has been paid by the Commission to obtaining an 

 excellent water supply. This, I think, more than the death of all 

 mosquitoes, is responsible for the present healthy condition of the 

 population. The settlements on the Canal Zone obtain their water 

 supply from the reservoirs at Rio Grande, Camacho and Gorgona, and 

 also from the Tabernilla and Gatuncillo rivers. The terminal cities 

 of Panama and Colon obtain their water supply from the Rio Grande 

 and the Mount Hope reservoirs respectively. Distribution systems 

 from these reservoirs are so arranged as to reach all camps, and most 

 of the native settlements. The watersheds are free from habitations, 

 and are continually patrolled and inspected. Water obtained from 

 the source of supply, and also from the taps and drinking-water 

 vessels, is analysed at regular intervals. When the bacterial contents 

 is high an immediate investigation of the cause is made. Where 

 polluted streams occur near native settlements, proper notices are 

 posted in conspicuous places warning people not to use such water 

 for drinking purposes. The police authorities, as well as the Sanitary 

 Inspectors, have authority to arrest persons polluting or trespassing 

 on the water-shed. In case the water supply is contaminated, or 

 even suspected to be contaminated, notices to that effect are imme- 

 diately posted, and house-owners are directed to boil all water used 

 for drinking purposes. The Commission delivers distilled water to 

 Commission houses and to all Mess Halls. Most perfectly thought 



