8 4 



the theory originally brought forward and elaborated by Dr. CHARLES 

 FINLAY, of Havana, and finally entirely established by the beautiful 

 and complete experiments of the Yellow Fever Commission, of which 

 Major WALTER REED was President. 



When the results of these experiments were made known, the 

 Military Governor, General LEONARD WOOD, directed that every 

 effort be made to carry out disinfection on the lines indicated by this 

 discovery, and the result of four months' work has been to strengthen 

 the conclusions reached by the Board. 



The year 1901 opened up as usual, the yellow fever continuing 

 from 1900. In January we had 23 cases and 7 deaths ; in February, 

 8 cases and 5 deaths. On February i6th an order was issued adopt- 

 ing the new methods of disinfection for yellow fever. 



After this date we had new cases on February 22nd, 23rd, and 

 27th, and on March 2nd and 8th. We then had no cases until April 

 2oth and 2ist when two occurred, and again no more fever until May 

 6th and 7th when there were four cases. Since May 7th there have 

 been no other cases of yellow fever. 



There have been years in which there was very little yellow fever 

 in the city during the three months under consideration, but none in 

 which it has entirely disappeared as at present. 



The years 1898 and 1899 are the two previous years in which the 

 fewest number of cases occurred during these three months ; but 

 the great difference between this year, for instance, and other years 

 is that we have been for long periods and are now entirely free 

 from fever. 



In 1899 this was not the case. After May 7th the city was never 

 free from this disease, showing that the infection was never entirely 

 gotten rid of. 



Since May i6th, a period of one month and a half, the city has 

 been entirely free from fever, the last case having become convalescent 

 on that date. 



I select 1899 as the very best of the preceding years j if we con- 

 sider any other year, the comparison is much more marked in favour 

 of the present year. 



From these facts, it seems to me a fair inference that our method 

 of disinfection killed off infected mosquitoes, and that by March 8th 

 we had rid the city of infection. 



