Book
Maya
(Connor)
PODER EJECUTIVO FEDERAL
ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS
MEXICO
Merida Yucatan Mexico.
October 11, 1922. DEPARTAMENTO
DE
SALUBRIDAD PUBLICA DE MEXICO
----
JEFATURA DE LA CAMPAŅA CONTRA
LA FIEBRE AMARILLA EN YUCATAN
----
MERIDA, YUC. MEX.
My dear Doctor Carter: Mr. E.H. Thompson, Archeologist, has just left me after
a pleasant half hour discussion on the probable use of the "Chultunes
by the ancient Mayas. You will recall that Spinden in his article in
the Worlds Work (December 1921) states that the "Chultuns" were for
express purpose of conserving fresh water. Spinden's statement has been questioned by other Archeolo-
gists who claim that the "Chultuns" were constructed for the purpose
of storing corn. Another link in determining the presence of yellow
fever amongst the Mayas would be forged if it can be proven that the
"Chultunes" were used for storing fresh water as these ancient
peoples would have unwittingly provided ideal breeding places for
the only known vector of the causative agent of yellow fever. With this thought in mind I sought out Mr. Thompson, a well
known student of Maya history and he tells me that the "Chultunes"
were in his opinion used exclusively for conserving water for do-
mestic use. He refers me to his article s The Chultunes of Labna.
published by the Peabody Musuem, Harvard University, Cambridge Mass,
from which Institution copies of his article can be secured for the
asking. I am asking Miss Miller to request a copy for my files. You have undoubtedly seen Dr. White and he has related
to you the factors relative to the outbreak of yellow fever in
Panuco and Tampico. He told me that the infection was probably en-
demic in Tampico, and had existed in a mild form for the eighteen mon
-ths, amongst the children, when h we thought it had been eliminated
It seemed to be when I was last in Tampico that the infection was
not endemic in the city but in the region or area and we never found
it out until it had reached epidemic proportions. One error in the Mexican campaign has been the failure
to make a csreful epidemiologocal survey and study of vital statis-
tics in the begining of the campaign. Doctor White started on this
detail as soon as possible after taking hold of the work and the
data collected will be very valuable for future guidance. The Mexican problem is quite different in many rep-ects
from Panama or Guayaquil, in the former places there was only one
center in each country to treat while here there are several and
in Mexico the intercommunications are so complete that no part of
the stegomyia infested area can be left untreated unless we are
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