OFFICE OF CHIEF SANITARY OFFICER, Ancon, Canal Zone, March 11, 1907.
DEAR SIR: I herewith forward report of the sanitary departm ent for the month of February. b of the l o
The health of the Zone continues excellent, both ofthe laboring force and civil population. The three causes of highest mortality among the working force were pneumonia, 26 deaths; malarial fever, 15 deaths, and accidental traumatisms, 12 deaths. In our force of 5,554 white Americans we had only two deaths, one from black-water fever and the other from consumption. The case -that died with consumption was one that came here from the United States well advanced in that disease and worked only a' few days and came at once on the sick report. This would give us a rate for the American whites of 4.20 per thousand a year.
Among our 900 American women and children there were no deaths.
Our average sick rate continues to fall. In August we had an average of 42 per thousand constantly sick, in January this had fallen to 26 per thousand constantly sick, and in February it had dropped to 24 per thousand.
During the month we had three cases of smallpox treated in the hospitals; two cases taken off of incoming ships by the quarantine Department, and only one case originating on the Isthmus. All the people living in the vicinity of the point-at which this case occurred. were -Vaccinated, the house and clothing disinfected, and no further cases occurred. No other quarantinable diseases occurred.
W had our last case of yellow fever in May of 1906.
Very respectfully,
W. C. GORGA5,
Chief Sanitary Officer.
To the CHAIRMAN, ISTHMIAN CANAL CoMMIssIoN,
W ashington, D. C.
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