424 



Despairing of ever obtaining a fair investigation of my theory, such 

 as I had repeatedly solicited, but at the same time encouraged by the 

 results which I had obtained even with my imperfect methods, it now 

 occurred to me that I might be more successful in persuading my 

 colleagues to try a plan for stamping out yellow fever which I had 

 formulated in my own mind. I. therefore, took the opportunity of Koch's 

 suggestions concerning malaria in 1898 to insert an outline of my plan as 

 the conclusion of a paper which I read before the Academy of Sciences in 

 November of the same year.I then translated this paper into English, with 

 a more detailed account of my plan, and showed it to several officers of 

 the American army and navy, stationed in Havana, in December of 1898. 

 Finally, this same paper was published in the New York Medical Record 

 of May 27, 1899. I must ask you, gentlemen, to let me quote the last 

 paragraphs of that publication. These were my words: 



"Why should not the houses in yellow fever countries be provided 

 with mosquito-blinds, such as are used fti the United States as a mere 

 matter of comfort, while here it might be a question of life or death ? The 

 mosquito larva 1 might be destroyed in swamps, pools, privies, sinks, street 

 sewers, and other stagnant waters in which they are bred, by a methodical 

 use of potassium permanganate or other such substances, in order to lessen 

 the abundance of mosquitoes; but the most essential point must be to 

 prevent those insects from reaching yellow fever patients, and to secure a 

 proper disinfection of all suspicious discharges, in order to forestall the 

 contamination of those insects. Well ventilated hospitals should be built 

 upon high grounds, with no stagnant waters nor marshes in their vicinity ; 

 doors and windows protected by mosquito-blinds; a good system of 

 drainage and sewerage; and facilities for destroying any mosquitoes or 

 larva» which might be found within the building. Only the upper stories 

 should be occupied by the sick, and none but yellow fever patients and 

 such malaria patients as are considered immune against yellow fever 

 should be admitted. The examination, for admission might be carried out 

 in a separate building, and a separate department devoted to the suspicious 

 cases under observation. 



"With such hospitals at hand, and an efficient board of health that 

 would see to the proper arrangements for patients who could be left at their 

 homes, and general sanitary improvements within and around the principal 

 cities, there can be no doubt that yellow fever might be stamped out from 

 Cuba and Porto Rico, and malaria reduced to a minimum. It would then 

 be the business of the port and quarantine officers to prevent the 

 introduction of fresh germs." 



Every word of that prophecy has now come true, and I appeal to 

 Major Gorgas himself to áay whether in the accomplishment of his 

 admirable work, which has now culminated in the unquestionable stamping 

 out of yellow fever from Havana, he has resorted to any measures which 



