CANAL ZONE SANITATION 297 



ment. Sanitary and police authority over these places, however, had 

 wisely been retained by treaty rights. The unsanitary condition of 

 Colon was vigorously attacked. Lakes were drained and filled and oil 

 was used freely where draining was impracticable ; a good sewer system 

 was installed and connection required; an adequate supply of pure 

 water was brought from a distance and cisterns abolished; streets were 

 graded and sidewalks built; wharves were constructed, and the tide 

 water controlled; suitable ordinances were passed, order was estab- 

 lished and sanitary regulations of every kind were rigidly enforced. 

 A quarantine system was inaugurated that was unyielding and of great 

 value. As soon as possible a modern hospital was built with up-to-date 

 equipment and every possible facility for scientific investigation and 

 the most skilled surgical and medical treatment. This hospital has 

 grown to great dimensions and has few equals in results. The annual 

 death rate of Colon under this method has been reduced from 50 to less 

 than 20 per thousand. 



Panama City, not quite so bad as Colon, was treated in a similar 

 manner. Adjoining Panama City is Ancon, the attractive American 

 suburb, where are established the administration buildings, and the 

 great Ancon hospital, which has no superior anywhere, furnishing the 

 employees every facility for recovery that money can buy. 



The problems confronted in the intermediate country were some- 

 what different, but similar in principle. The trains were screened and 

 regulations put in force for the protection of the public health. A num- 

 ber of living stations for employees were arranged along the railroad 

 and every house was built well off the ground and screened. Now the 

 real war against disease was begun, lakes and swamps that had never 

 been drained since nature made them poured out their accumulated 

 filth to the sea; those that could not be drained were oiled; ditches 

 were dug only after the lines of skilled engineers so that drainage 

 might be perfect; a large force of men were kept busy oiling three or 

 four times a month all lakes, puddles, sluggish streams and marshes, 

 so that mosquitoes could not breed. Each little station or town was 

 furnished a pure water supply, brought down from the distant hills in 

 some instances, and provided with an efficient system of sewers, or in 

 some rare instances well arranged cesspools. The jungle was cut away 

 some distance from all residences so that the mosquito could find no 

 resting place. Plague-carrying rats and other vermin were destroyed. 

 Disinfectants were freely used, and fumigation resorted to when neces- 

 sary in handling contagious diseases. Eotting vegetable and animal 

 matter, offal and garbage, were burned. The life and habits of the men 

 were carefully regulated. Government dining halls furnished good 

 meals, well cooked, and protected by screens; sleeping quarters were 

 clean and neatly screened and comfortable; the hours of rest and labor 



