( io 3 ) 
N OT E . 
SANITARY CONTROL IN MEXICO AND THE CENTRAL 
AMERICAN REPUBLICS. 
In Mexico, under Dr. Liceaga, sanitary administration has received a great 
stimulus. I heie is a Supreme Board of Health. Health returns are published 
i egularly, literature is distributed to educate the public, and properly directed 
anti-mosquito campaigns are organised against Yellow fever and plague when it 
appears. 1 he lesson that Havana has taught has not been lost in Mexico ; but, 
on the contrary, has been put into active practice. In view of the fact 
that the Mexican Government is fully alive to the importance of modern 
prophylactic measures and that regular health statistics are published, I am of the 
opinion that it would be of great use if the Government of British Honduras were 
officially and regularly supplied with the weekly, monthly and periodical health 
leturns and reports of a Republic which is so close to it. Such reports would be 
of great use to the chief sanitary officer and to the Quarantine Board.* 
I* or reliable medical information concerning the health of the chief coast towns 
ol the Central American Republics the only available weekly sources are the 
bulletins of the United States Public Health and Marine Hospital Service. This 
bureau has organised a very extensive and efficient medical advisory system at 
the chief ports in Central America, including British Honduras and in Mexico, 
trading with the United States. Medical officers, as previously pointed out, are 
stationed at the principal ports: Tampico, Vera Cruz, Progreso, Belize, 
Livingston, Puerto Cortes, Ceiba, Bluefields, Port Limon and Bocas del Toro, 
from Apiil to November, at the season when Yellow fever would be dangerous 
to the southern States, if introduced. I he officers inspect ships leaving for 
the States, and carry out fumigation when necessary. They issue health 
certificates to the Captain, and with the American Consuls sign the bills of 
health. I hey furnish weekly reports to the Bureau and telegraph the 
existence of quarantinable diseases when they are recognised. This division 
of the Marine Hospital Service Bureau orginated in the “ perennial peril, 
pointed out in 1896, by Surgeon-General Wyman, to which the United States 
was subjected because of the continued prevalence of Yellow fever in Havana, 
due to remedial causes.” The Bureau further maintained “ that all nations 
possessed certain international obligations in preventing the spread of epidemic 
disease from their seaports to the ports of foreign countries, and this idea of 
international co-operation in the sanitation of seaport cities has never been 
relinquished.” As the result of this policy, the United States Government 
pointed out to the Spanish Government the anxiety caused to the United 
States by the insanitary condition of Havana ; little was done, however, until 
the American occupation of Cuba, when Havana was freed of Yellow fever. 
In 1899, Surgeon-General Wyman wrote “that every nation should be held 
* The “ Bolelin extraordinario del Consejo Superior de Salubridad,” contains an account of the 
anti-yellow fever measures and their beneficial results during the past three years. They are printed 
in Spanish, French and English. They are now published monthly. 
