136 MODE OF TRANSMISSION OF YELLOW FEVER 



In the past, from want of knowledge of tlie true 

 metliod of transmission, rigorous house quarantine 

 was enforced in tlie epidemic of 1878 in Xew Orleans, 

 and vast quantities of disinfectant were used, clothing 

 and baggage were disinfected or destroyed, but nothing 

 but the frost — a natural means of preventing the 

 acti^'ity and breeding of the mosquito — stopped the 

 fever. Ships have been turned away with the dying 

 on board, or subjected for long periods to quarantine, 

 thousands of tons of harmless stone ballast have been 

 thrown overboard or disinfected, lest they should spread 

 contagion. 



The flood of new light which was thrown upon 

 the nature of yellow fever soon began to have its 

 effect. The first great application of the new principle 

 of prevention of yellow fever was made at Havana 

 in 1901 by Major Gorgas, under the very able 

 administration of General \\^ood. The result was a 

 complete success ; it has become historic, and con- 

 stitutes the example to every town in the yellow 

 fever zone of the truth of the doctrine of the mosquito 

 transmission and the practicability of its application. 

 The example has been followed, under Dr. Cruz in 

 Rio, and Dr. Liceaga in Mexico ; great improvements 

 have been brought about, but an immense amount 

 of work still remains to be done. A new stimulus 

 has, however, now been furnished by the successful 

 campaign of 1905 in New Orleans, and now in the 

 Canal Zone, and it is to be hoped that a great deal 

 of the opposition and apathy still to be met with will 

 soon give place to hearty co-operation and determina- 



