28 YELLOW FEVER PROPHYLAXIS IN NEW ORLEANS 



The Citizens' Volunteer Ward Organisation. 



On July 28th the Central Office of this splendid organisation was 

 opened under the direct charge of Dr. Warner, and under the 

 guidance of the Advisory Committee. Dr. Warner immediately set 

 to work and issued a circular to all the Wards, calling upon those who 

 had not already organised to do so, to open offices in each Ward, and 

 asking each what it proposed to do. A meeting was also summoned 

 of the Chairmen of each of the Ward organisations to deliberate on 

 the best plan for co-ordinate action. 



The 16 Wards took up the work with enthusiasm. Each Ward 

 held numerous meetings and planned its line of action in the cam- 

 paign against the mosquito. Each took charge of the sanitary 

 operations of its district, commenced screening and fumigating, and 

 purchased stocks of cheese cloth, lime, oil, oilers, pasting materials 

 and ladders to reach to the top of the cisterns. Each one organised 

 the necessary gangs requisite for inspecting, screening, fumigating 

 and oiling. Each Ward also issued public notices and posters 

 drawing attention to the necessity of fumigation, &c. Finally they 

 commenced an educational campaign of the greatest magnitude. 

 Under Dr. Warner's administration the organisation set to work to 

 educate the whole population ; numerous meetings were held every 

 night in the various Wards, in the churches of all denominations, 

 schoolrooms, halls, clubs, &c. The audiences were addressed by 

 medical men especially chosen for their expert knowledge, by leading 

 citizens, by the Mayor, Dr. Warner, the Bishop and numerous other 

 citizens. The City Health Officer was especially active in giving 

 almost every night to large audiences a lantern demonstration of the 

 life history of the Stegomyia, throwing upon the screen by means 

 of the lantern the " wiggle waggles " kept alive in a water cell. This 

 was always a popular and useful demonstration and should be copied 

 extensively. The lectures were given in English and other languages, 

 and no section of the very mixed population of New Orleans was left 

 out. All religious denominations co-operated with remarkable 

 alacrity, and lent their churches and organisations to the lecturers. 

 The coloured people were organised and many meetings were held 

 amongst them. At first it was difficult to overcome the prejudice 

 of the Italian and Sicilian people, but by using influence with their 

 own priests, and leading men, they, too, became more amenable. The 



