PR ii FACE 



This book is a compilation of most of the papers of our 

 illustrious countryman, Dr. Carlos J. Finlay, some of which 

 had been unedited, and the greater portion, contributions 

 which had appeared in the several national or foreign 

 tifie publications. 



At the close of the second American intervention, the 

 Provisional Governor by Decree No. L130, which appears in 

 this book, ordered the publication of the presenl volume. The 

 task has been undertaken by our actual President of the 

 Republic, Genera] José Miguel Gómez, who <»n September 

 29th, 1910 signed Decree No. 912, the text of which is also 

 herein contained. 



With the conclusion of the work, and Dr. Fin! 

 precious existence still vouch-safed to us, it may well be said 

 that in his native country there has already been laid the 

 corner stone "t' the monument which will perpetuate the 

 memory <>i' this great investigator. The one thousand copies 

 of this volumen which will comprise the edition, arc to be 

 distributed here in Cuba and abroad among the public 

 libraries, the government offices and scientific corporations 

 in oi-ilci- that the world at large may follow the development 

 of this master mind, and admire the tenacity of purpose 

 that led the meat pioneer in Tropical medicine to his genial 

 discovery, an achievement which will forever make his name 

 unforgotten in the annals of public hygiene and as that of one 

 • ■I' the greatest benefactors of Humanity. 



The work of Finlay has opened the heretofore closed path 

 of progress and civilization in tropical America. 'The confir- 

 mation of his theory of the transmission of Yellow Fever by 

 the mosquito has been, in our judgement, the most important 

 Btep taken in these regions since their discovery by < 'olumbus. 

 He has made possible the sanitary conditions thai are ¡ 



