MIRACLES OF SCIENCE 



the authorities of some cities to emulation. An idea 

 of what may be done may be gained from a specific 

 illustration given by Dr. Mears. He says: 



"In a visit made in the past winter to South Amer- 

 ica, I landed in Santos, Brazil, a city of 41,000 popu- 

 lation, and one of the best ports on the Atlantic 

 Ocean. A few'y ears ago this port was devastated 

 by raging epidemics of yellow fever. To such an ex- 

 tent did the disease prevail that vessels coming into 

 the port lost in several instances, and very quickly, 

 their entire crews from the disease, officers and men, 

 before they could be unloaded. It was told of one 

 instance in which a vessel lay anchored in the harbor 

 for a period of eighteen months undischarged, with 

 cargo perishing in the hold. 



"Inspired by the fact that this city was the great- 

 est shipping port of coffee in the world, tne govern- 

 ment and municipal authorities inaugurated a system 

 of modern hygienic improvements which banished 

 yellow fever, converting its beautiful harbor from 

 a home of pestilence into an attractive seaside home, 

 with the ships of many nations unloading and load- 

 ing in guaranteed security alongside of its commo- 

 dious and well-arranged quays." 



Such an illustration presents in a vivid light the 

 enormous economic importance of these newest tri- 

 umphs of medical science. The conquest of malaria, 

 yellow fever, plague, and typhoid fever will not only 

 metamorphose the conditions of life for the present 

 residents of the tropics, but will open up vast equa- 

 torial regions that hitherto have been uninhabitable. 



