What did William Gorgas do to help the Panama Canal?
Army (1914–1918). He is best known for his work in Florida, Havana and at the Panama Canal in abating the transmission of yellow fever and malaria by controlling the mosquitoes that carry these diseases. At the time, his strategy was greeted with considerable skepticism and opposition to such hygiene measures. However, the measures he put into practice as the head of the Panama Canal Zone Sanitation Commission saved thousands of lives and contributed to the success of the Canal's construction.
What was Gorgas' military career?
Military career. c. 1920. He was assigned to three posts— Fort Clark, Fort Duncan, and Fort Brown —in Texas. While at Fort Brown (1882–84), Gorgas survived an episode of yellow fever. He met Marie Cook Doughty who also contracted the disease at the same place and time.
What were Gorgas's sanitary programs?
As chief sanitary officer on the canal project, Gorgas implemented far-reaching sanitary programs, including the draining of ponds and swamps, fumigation, use of mosquito netting, and construction of public water systems. These measures were instrumental in permitting the construction of the Panama Canal, as they significantly prevented illness due to yellow fever and malaria (which had also been shown to be transmitted by mosquitoes in 1898) among the thousands of workers involved in the building project.
Where is Gorgas Hospital?
Gorgas Hospital was a U.S. Army hospital in Panama, previously known as Ancon Hospital and named for Dr. Gorgas in 1928. Now held and operated by Panama, it is home to the Instituto Oncologico Nacional, Panama 's Ministry of Health and its Supreme Court.
What did Henry George argue about single tax?
He was a Georgist and argued that adopting Henry George 's popular 'Single Tax' would be a way to bring about sanitary living conditions, especially for the poor.
Where is Gorgas Avenue in San Francisco?
There is a Gorgas Avenue in the Presidio in San Francisco, California.
When was Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine founded?
The Gorgas Memorial Institute of Tropical and Preventive Medicine, Incorporated (GMITP), which operated the Gorgas Laboratories in Panama, was founded in 1921 and was named after Dr. Gorgas. With the loss of congressional funding in 1990, the GMITP was closed.
What was Gorgas's role in the Panama Canal?
During the French Panama railroad efforts, one hospital in Panama City recorded 1,041 deaths over nine years from yellow fever alone. 15 But within two years, Gorgas had effectively eliminated yellow fever and controlled malaria using the same methods he had developed in Havana, thus allowing the United States to complete the canal. 16
What did Gorgas say about the community?
Despite the complexity of his work, Gorgas remained humble, writing in his report that “the same thing could be accomplished by any community anywhere else,” so long as the community put in the effort and resources. “No elaborate machinery of any kind is necessary; merely men and brooms.” 10
How did Gorgas help the people of Havana?
By 1901 the number of deaths from yellow fever had dropped to 12. 11 Sources reported 5,643 deaths from malaria between 1890 and 1900, and only 444 deaths between 1900 and 1910. 12 A portion of this success can be attributed to Gorgas’ personality. He was excellent at calmly and clearly communicating the goal of his work to the people of Havana, and worked hard to listen to their complaints without malice. This helped him convince the people to work with an occupying power. Consequently, Gorgas, his team, and the people of Havana were able to control yellow fever and malaria for many years to come. 13
What was Gorgas' first target?
Gorgas’ first target was the yellow fever epidemic in Havana, Cuba. It was reported that “yellow fever [had] been continuously present in this city [Havana] since 1762,” and so it was difficult to believe it could ever be eliminated there. 7 When Gorgas began his service, the theory of mosquitoes as transmission vector for yellow fever was still controversial. Experiments to prove transmission performed under Walter Reed seemed convincing, but Gorgas remained unconvinced it was the only transmission method. As such, he performed experiments of his own, including one that involved the now famous nurse Clara Maass, to confirm the vector and explore the best way to induce immunity. These experiments helped verify the truth, and possibly helped convince many of those in authority who remained unconvinced about the mosquito vector theory. 8,9 Once Gorgas was confident mosquitoes were a – if not the only – vector of infection, he began a massive cleanup of the city.
Who wrote a review of sanitation in Panama?
Francis P. McCarthy, “A review of sanitation in Panama,” 6.
Who wrote the book "Mosquito control in Panama"?
Joseph A. Le Prince, and A. J. Orenstein, Mosquito control in Panama: the eradication of malaria and yellow fever in Cuba and Panama, (. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1916.), 14, https://id.lib.harvard.edu/curiosity/contagion/36-990015792000203941.