( 2 ) 
and works of this nature in spite of the fact of their importance and urgency 
in preserving the health of the community are deferred for an old tradition, 
and that, too, after Havana has proved the absurdity of it. It demonstrates, 
however, that the newer facts are not yet fully accepted by a large section 
of the Public, and that those measures against yellow fever which have now 
been proved to be the only ones of avail against that disease are not fully 
adopted. It is hardly necessary to add that in consequence valuable time is lost, 
and lives and commerce sacrificed. 
When it is remembered that the Stegomyia fasciata is present throughout 
the year, and that in consequence a town in the tropics in the \ ellow I" ever 
Zone may be as liable to infection in the autumn as in the summer, or in the 
spring ; it is obvious that if the excavated or dredged material contained 
some poison which inoculated the Stegomyia or infected man, it would be as 
effective in the autumn as in the summer or spring, and dredging or excava- 
tions would be equally harmful at any time of the year ; it would be 
impossible to say, as has been done, when “digging operations might be 
safely commenced.” But there is no scientific evidence whatever to show that 
dredged or excavated material is infective, and the prejudice does not appear 
to me to be shared by the natives. Dredging operations have been blamed 
as the cause of the outbreak in Belize, but the fact is lost sight of that at 
the same time the fever had declared itself in the surrounding Republics, and 
that dredging has been carried on over and over again without any epidemic 
occurring. I lay stress on this clinging to past beliefs because I am convinced 
that a great deal of harm is done even at the present time, and that the 
necessity for active preventive measures is unfortunately not fully realised. 
Without a clear and precise knowledge of the method of transmission it 
is impossible for any authority to effectively prevent or check a disease like 
yellow fever, in which scientific precision, thoroughness and immediate action 
are essential. 
The following is a list of the outbreaks of yellow fever in Belize since 1886, 
taken from the Colonial Surgeon’s reports and hospital returns : — 
1886. — Epidemic preceded by severe increase of malaria in 1885. 
No. 
Name. 
Date. 
Residence 
Lot No. 
I 
Margaret Miller... 
14th August ... 
130 
2 
Francisco Garcia 
1 8th 
823 
3 
Francisco Cuellar 
3 ist .. 
I I 
4 
Franz Werner ... 
4th September 
844 
5 
Carl Weber 
4 th „ 
M 57 
6 
Maximiano Trejo 
7 th „ 
76 4 
7 
William Hynes ... 
8th „ 
837 
8 
Lucy Muschamp 
9th „ 
196 
9 
Georgina Machaca 
? 
I 1 
10 
Vicente Bidinotti 
xoth ,, 
ID 33 
1 1 
Henry Davidson 
15th „ 
343 
12 
Giuseppe Bidinotti 
1 6 th „ 
i,i 33 
13 
John Millar 
17 th „ 
6 5 
14 
Edward Heath ... 
17th „ 
154 
15 
Charles Wade ... 
? 
69 
l6 
Elesandro Soliz ... 
22nd ,, 
p 
17 
Ramon Espana ... 
4th October ... 
64 
