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their information is often used by our own Consuls in drawing up Bills of 
Health for ships destined for British ports. 
The medical officer during the period of duty from May to November 
must make a weekly report of his transactions to the Surgeon-General at 
Washington. These reports are published in a bulletin issued weekly from 
Washington, and serve to give an accurate picture of the state of infection at 
the various ports and other places in tropical countries trading with the States. 
I he reports are of great service to our own Quarantine Boards, and often 
constitute the only quick and concise channel through which reliable information 
can be obtained upon the health conditions obtaining in surrounding countries. 
The following is an example affecting Belize of the promptitude with 
which these medical officers act. An extract from the Public Health and 
Marine Hospital reports dated Washington, June 9th, 1905, reads : — 
British Honduras. Report from Belize, Fruit Port. — Yellow fever. 
Acting Assistant-Surgeon Carson reports as follows : — Week ending 
May 25th, 1905. Present official estimated population, 8,500 ; number of 
deaths seven, including two from Yellow fever; general sanitary condition of 
this port and surrounding country during the week, not good. Confirming 
my cablegram of the 22nd inst. to the Bureau via Puerto Cortes, Honduras, 
and reading as follows: — “Two cases of Yellow fever, one death, Belize, 
Carson. ” I have the honour to state relative thereto, that two cases of Yellow 
fever occurred in this port on the 16th and 1 8th inst. respectively. The first 
died, but the second case was Captain O. B., of the British steamer “ Whitehall,” 
lately wrecked off this coast. The captain was taken ill on the 15th inst., and 
was removed from an hotel to the Government Hospital on the 20th, when he 
died next day. I was present by invitation, with Dr. Harrison, Asst. -Col. 
Surgeon, at the autopsy. And I am firmly of opinion that death was due to 
Yellow fever.” Further on Dr. Carson reports: “The second death was of 
the Rev. G. W. C., an Englishman, aged 37, and residing here for the past 
eighteen months. He was taken ill on the 1 6th. The attending physicians 
regarding the case as suspicious asked me for a consultation on the 21st, &c. 
I am informed by a local physician that there are several other 
suspicious cases of fever in this port, and Dr. Eyles states that he has several 
cases in hospital under observation.” “ I cabled Mobile and New Orleans when 
1 cabled the Bureau on the 22nd inst., and Acting Assistant-Surgeons Peters 
(Livingston) and Carter (Puerto Cortes) were informed by mail (no wire 
exists) as to the existence of Yellow fever at this port.” 
By this action the United States and the Sanitary Authorities at the 
principal ports in Guatemala and Honduras were warned at the very com- 
mencement of the outbreak. 
The medical officer at the port of departure carries out the fumigation of 
the ship destined for the States just prior to her leaving, and takes the tem- 
perature of passengers and crew. Passengers desirous of leaving by the ship 
would have notified to the medical officer their intention of so doin<>- seven 
o 
days previously. In this way he not only obtains the names of passengers, 
but ascertains their movements prior to departure. They are further instructed 
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