In 1900, an epidemic of bubonic plague in the seaport of Santos threatened to reach Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To combat the epidemic, the Federal Serum Therapy Institute was created to make serum. Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz was appointed technical director. He was recommended by the Pasteur Insitute in Paris, where he had focused on bacteriology after med school in Brazil. In 1902, he rose to director general of the institute. In early 1904, a smallpox epidemic struck Rio. Since 1837, Brazil had a law requiring childhood smallpox vaccination, but it was never enforced. Oswaldo proposed to the government to pass a stronger law, but popular opposition rose, and newspapers campaigned against Cruz and the goverment. MPs and labor unions protested. An anti-vaccination league was organized. In November, Revolta da Vacina (the Vaccine Revolt) rose to the level of a riot, shootings, a failed coup, 30 deaths, and more than 1,000 people arrested. The vaccination campaign was suspended. In 1908, a more severe smallpox epidemic made the people rush en masse to get vaccinationated. Nine thousand people died. Cruz was vindicated and his reputation restored. Oswaldo also was renowned for his work to improve sanitation to address endemic yellow fever, which had earned Rio de Janeiro the nickname "Foreigners' Grave." From 1897 to 1906, 4,000 European immigrants had died. Cruz pioneered eradicating of mosquitoes. He also applied fumigation, isolation of the ill, obligatory notification of cases, rat extermination, and treatment with new serums. The sanitation program allowed the completion of the Madeira-Mamoré railroad, interrupted due many malaria and yellow fever deaths among the workers. The intitute was renamed in his honor, and it still exerts a strong influence on Brazilian science, technology, and public health. Several neighborhoods, schools, and public institutions bear his name. Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz was born 1872 in São Luis do Paraitinga, a small city in São Paulo Province, to the physician Bento Gonçalvez Cruz and Amália Bulhões Cruz. Oswaldo died at age 44 on this date in 1917. A life too short, but impactful. Credit: https://w.wiki/HpUH It rained earlier today. It was still cloudy and cool when I started. I added my thinnest silk base layer under my jersey. It was just right! By the time I finished, the sky was blue and the sun felt good. A short ride, just once up Westridge this time, but with a few extra miles to the Veterans Home first. There's a ton of construction at the Veterans Home, with different closures every visit, but I picked my way through. Why all the construction? The VA lost its court cases over its leases to non-defense-related companies and orgs. (I've long been astonished the VA had such tenants, since I learned 30 years ago I wasn't allowed to use the runways at Moffett Field, because I didn't have a connection to the Navy or NASA.) And then Trump told them to focus on building more housing for "homeless Veterans (on) their journey back to self-sufficiency." That's a good thing, and in line with the West L.A. Veterans Home's mission for the last 139 years. But I object to the framing. Some veterans with difficulties that prevent them from being self-sufficient will need permanent housing, among other services. Telling them their goal must be self-sufficiency is cruel and unrealistic. Also, the VA has added propaganda to signage at the Veterans Home saying it will transform "into the National Center for Warrior Independence." Ew. Traffic signal score: Climbing Pearl, the Centinela light turned green for a waiting car just as I got there, but Bundy turned red as I approached. Bundy traffic was light, so I turned right on red, made a safe U turn, then continued up Pearl. Barrington lights were no problem, as usual. I stupidly joined San Vicente from Gorham, so the Montana red got me. Then Bundy was red, but I timed it to stay in the clips. After Westridge, I joined San Vicente at 26th, right turn on red! And at 7th, I went through the green at 28 mph!