[Inclosure.]
Minister Barrett to the Foreign
Representatives in Panama.
American Legation,
Panama, January 20,
1905.
Sir: In view of the constant inquiries made
at this legation and in order to supplant uncertain and harmful
rumors with the truth, I have the honor to give you definite
information in regard to yellow fever on the Isthmus of Panama.
Since July 1, 1904, when the United States authorities took charge of
the sanitary work, up to this date, January 20, 1905, or during six
and one-half months, there have been officially reported by Col. W.
C. Gorgas, chief of the United States sanitary staff, 18 cases of
yellow fever, as per inclosed list.a
There are now 4 cases in hospital, included in the above total, but
these are all confined to laborers of the sanitary staff, who
apparently contracted the disease while preparing houses and grounds
for disinfection and fumigation, and they are also recovering. I
have personally visited the hospital myself and confirmed these
facts.
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Of the above 18 cases, however, it is gratifying to note that there
have been only 3 deaths, while only one case in the last three and
one-half months has resulted fatally. This favorable condition is
due first to good nursing and treatment in the hospital, and second,
to the light form of the disease prevalent.
It can be distinctly stated that yellow fever is not epidemic and
that every effort is being made by the sanitary corps to limit its
spread. It is now to be classed only as endemic. Each case,
moreover, is carefully isolated at the hospital and every house
where a case is found is immediately fumigated.
There is no occasion for general alarm and no reason why ships should
not be dispatched with clean bills of health, as far as the presence
of yellow fever in epidemic form is concerned. As the disease is not
epidemic, the United States shipping officials hold that they have
been and are complying with the regulations of the United States as
to clean bills of health.
As the figures quoted cover the city of Colon on the Atlantic as well
as Panama city and the intermediate country of the Canal Zone, with
a total population of 50,000, the showing is not discouraging. Only
18 cases and 3 deaths in seven months in a population of 50,000 is
not a cause for excited fear. The danger to Americans and other
foreigners in Panama from yellow fever is no greater than in New
York and Paris from pneumonia and grippe.
There might, however, be grave cause for alarm if the sanitary corps
were not extending its operations to the fullest degree of practical
efficiency. The force of men under Colonel Gorgas and his
assistants, Doctors Le Prince and Balch, is being greatly enlarged
by order of Governor Davis, and no effort and expense will be spared
first to limit and second to stamp out yellow fever.
It is, moreover, expected that within a few days, negotiations as
stipulated in the treaty, now being carried on by Governor Davis and
myself with the Panama Government, will result in a definite plan
for the complete, thorough, and systematic cleaning cf the streets,
alleys, yards, and houses of every part of the city of Panama.
I have, etc.,
