i6 YELLOW FEVER PROPHYLAXIS IN NEW ORLEANS 



E~fforts to Exterminate the Stegomyia in igoi. 

 As early as July, igoi, the Board of Health of New Orleans took 

 up the subject of mosquito extermination stimulated by the striking 

 and remarkable results achieved by the Stegomyia campaign m 

 Havana. Conferences were held, lectures given and the householder 

 app'ealed to. A circular was officially issued to the citizens giving 

 information concerning the life history of the Stegomyia, pointing out 

 the necessity of oiling and screening the cisterns and that oiling should 

 be done regularly. It was further shown that broken bottles, tins 

 and disused tubs were also sources of supply. A certain measure of 

 success attended the issue of these instructions, but soon apathy 

 took place, householders raised objections, and precautionary measures 

 were neglected. The experience acquired demonstrated to the Board 

 " the inutility of this class of propagandism, unsupported by special 

 law" The efforts of the Board were then directed to securing proper 

 legislation, but they were not able to accomplish this until they were 

 in the midst of the present epidemic. It is very greatly to be 

 regretted that in spite of the warning of the Medical Officer and of 

 a large number of the medical men of the City, that little heed was 

 paid to anti-mosquito measures. Had the City then taken effective 

 steps, it would have been spared the recent epidemic. Now, 

 however, the lesson has been learnt, and there can be little doubt that, 

 as the result. New Orleans will become a healthier and cleaner City, 

 and one in which it will be impossible for Yellow Fever, if accidentally 

 introduced, to spread, becoming as secure in this respect as Liverpool 

 or London. 



The Prophylactic Measures. 

 Announcement of the Outbreak. 



Immediately after holding an Autopsy upon what proved to be 

 a case of Yellow Fever, the official announcement, that Yellow Fever 

 was present in New Orleans, was made on July 22nd, 1905, in 

 accordance with an Act of 1 898 which states that : — " In case any 

 parish town or city, or any portion thereof, shall become infected 

 with any contagious or infectious disease to such an extent as to 

 threaten the spread of such disease to other portions of the State, 

 the State Board of Health shall issue its proclamation declaring the 

 facts," &c. 



