FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 131 



The Congress, therefore, urged that such laws be enacted as will best 

 accomplish its eradication, and, in view of the existence of the disease in 

 some of the European colonies of the American continent, that the Gov- 

 ernments thereof be invited to adopt measures of a kind calculated to 

 secure its elimination. 



Although yellow fever now exists in America in but few foci, yet the 

 increase in the susceptibility of the population renders the risk greater 

 from such foci than formerly, as under present conditions epidemic out- 

 breaks are likely to occur in such places, which was not previously the 

 case. This danger will increase from year to year, as the susceptible 

 population increases as long as the foci of yellow fever exist. The difficulty 

 of absolutely eradicating yellow fever may, therefore, be decidedly greater 

 in the future than at present, on account of the greater number of infected 

 loci which will then exist. 



If, however, yellow fever is once completely eliminated, there will be 

 no danger of its reappearance at any place, no matter what the local con- 

 ditions of mosquito production may be. A result so beneficial to all 

 mankind should appeal to philanthropists the world over and enlist their 

 sympathy and aid. 



The present time seems to be propitious for undertaking the eradication 

 of yellow fever from the Americas, and for this reason the resolution, was 

 adopted. It may be that, owing to the political organization of the 

 American Republics, measures of the nature required can only be taken 

 by the States or municipalities. If such be the case it is advisable that 

 States or municipalities in which yellow fever exists, or in which it is sus- 

 pected to exist, be urged to enact the legislation necessary to accomplish 

 this end. 



As in the case of malaria, so in the case of yellow fever, the Congress 

 did not prescribe a definite method. It should, however, be stated that 

 the section suggested, as the line of approach to procure this result, the 

 elimination of the breeding of Stegomyia mosquitoes (Aedes Calopus), 

 other measures being distinctly secondary thereto. 



ARTICLE 41. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress recommends 



that- 

 Such of the American Republics as have not already done so should 

 ratify the international conventions concerning the white- 

 slave trade. 



Representatives of fifteen European nations and of Brazil met in 

 Paris from July 15 to 25, 1902, upon the invitation of the French Gov- 

 ernment, and on July 25, 1902, adopted, for submission to their respective 



