The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-12
MANILA RULES OF HEALTH
FREDERICK E. FOSTER TELLS
HOW TO AVOID SICKNESS

A Document That Should BE Read
by Every Minnesota Man Going to
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. What Is
What Observation-Disclosures to BE
Worn-Diseases
At the meeting Of the Thirteenth Min
nesota regiment, st. Paul Auxiliary as
ISOLATION, held at the Commercial club
rooms Wednesday night, paper was
read by Mr.. Frederick E. Foster on the
subject Of Manila and the Philippines.
AS the members of the association
are confined to the relatives and friends
Of the members of the Thirteenth Min
nesota volunteers who are soon to be
sent to the Philippines, the paper pre-
sented by Mr.. Foster was not only
interesting, but timely. A residence Of
eight years at Manila qualified Mr. Fos-
ter to speak intelligently on the needs
OF the soldier boys after they reach
Manila, and also to state as to the pre-
cautions which should be taken as to
the clothing, food and sanitary regula-
lions.
The remarks of Mr.. Foster were so
apt and were considered of such i'm
portance that the association directed
its executive committee, of which
Thomas Cochran is chairman,> to have
i the paper printed and copies forwarded
to the officers and surgeons of the Thir-
teenth before the regiment sailed from
! San Francisco. Following is the paper
in full, copy Of which ought to be
placed in the hands of each man going
to Manila:
l. 20 nv tryin oohor
climate consists, not much in its ex-
! IRENE heat, as in the constancy of its high
temperature. There is, TOO, an important
4 fact to be taken in account which Is the
actnlc effect OF the suns rays in the tropics
| is, from the very nature of things, different
from that of the higher attitudes In the trop-
! ics-to use homely illustration-more of the
! suns rays fall within the square inch and
with more force, than strike the surface of
the globe elsewhere. And this fact in itself
| suffic emily explains why the thin-skinned and
ll-blooded northerner possessed of a Wig
| orous circulation, is at disadvantage as
compared with the thick-skinned brown races
| OF the tropics who, living in an atmosphere
less charged with oxygen and heavy, with
hydrogen are less nervous and of slower
pulse. With this difference in physique and
constitution it follows first of all that the
American cannot expose himself with immu-
nifty to the rays of a tropical sun. But this
does not necessarily imply that he cannot
both the heat and the sun; and subject to
ordinary rules of sanitation and hygiene
rules that apply with equal force to the trop-
les to the temperate regions. see no rea-
son to apprehend why troops in the Phil,
ippines may not, after brief acclimatien
: find the climate there quite supportable l.
myself. rassed eight years in Manila and
suffered no serious sickness during that time
NEED OF TEMPERANCE.
The watchword for the preservation Of
/ health must always be temperance in eating
and drinking During the long voyage be-
tween San Francisco and Manila in crowded
| transports especial should be taken to
! have our men reach their destination in good
condition l take it for granted that after a
few days at sea the men will have recovered
from their Ssa-sicknesS and the long. voyage,
! which will be through southern seas, will be
i an especial preparation to enable them to
withstand the humidity and the heat they
1 will encounter on their arrival at Manila, for
they will get there at the commencement Of
the rainy season. More than ordinary care
I should be observed after their arrival at Ma
/ Mia TO prevent an indulgence In fruits or
spirituous LIQUORS. ~:
|. The troops ought to be clothed in linen duck
uniforms, and the shoes provided should be
selected with special reference ito ;:wete. and
| mud: Their heads should be covered with
waterproof helmets, with a removable cape Of
t duck, which, when marching in thessun, can
1 be attached to3the1helmet SO that 1t may fall
:. to the shoulders and thus protect the neck
), from the sun. Light waterproofs or mackin-
| toshes of some, sort are absolutely indeSpensa-
! BILE a projection from the exposure to the
almost constant rains. which fall from June to
I November. Undertaking should be thin and
| preferably of wool or mixture of cotton and
wool, and during the rainy season at least,
should advise the wearing of an abdominal
bandage of good thick flannel, white or red,
and OF, not too fine texture.
/ The barracks in which our men are to be
| quaratered should be well raised from the
| ground and thoroughly ventilated.
| With regard to food and drinks, as have
said, moderation must be preserved always.
Whatever rations may be prescribed by army
regulations will We varied after arrival in
D@{lo rioo rnf1a hIN
take the place of baked beans, and 10 a
great extent bread. This is wholesome and
nourishng food, but is apt to produce worms
and this inconvenience will lave to be coll
tended against Fresh meat is obtainabie at
Manila, but must be consumed on the same
day as it is killed. There is plenty of good
water supplied to the city through the pipes,
and such water should be the only wa:er
used Cistern water Is impure. and that OBJ
| tanned from native wells Is dangerous, and
neither should be drunk without first being
boiled and filtered.
MAY DRINK LIGHT WINES.
By all means. if it is possible, our men
should be controlled in the use of spirituous
or fermented liquors. The native coco wine
and aguardiente or rum, are highly alcoholic
and intoxicating, and provoke disorder of the
bowels and dysentery. English beer is heady
and heavier than our light American beer,
and on that account is undesirable a
beverage Beers brewed in Japan or Hong
ported wines. diluted with water, may be
| drunk with impunity, but in moderation.
Tea or coffee or chocolate are refreshing and
| harmless.
In sleeping it is essential to keep the body
clothed and covered and for night garments
pyjamas, which consist of sleeping jacket
and trousers. are indispensable. These should
be made of light fannels cotton, rather
! than of silk or linen; and it may be stated
here that flannel or wooden cloth is always
more comfortable, strange as it may seem
| to the inexperienced, than cotton or silk
linen being both uncomfortable and unsafe.
Ice is a luxury. obtainable in Manila, snd
used in moderation, is useful and essential.
| The drinking of ice water when the body is
| heated is, however a suicidal act and cur
men should be prevented, at all hazards from
| following a custom which is reprehensible
enough in their own country, but which will
| prove positively detrimental to health in the
tropics. I refer to the free use of ice wafer.
Bathing in the bay may be INDUCED in
either early in the morning or late in the aft
ernoon. but no one should enter the water
after eating heartily. Nor is it prudent,
! when fatigued or heated from excessive exer-
else, to battle. The dashing Of cold water
over the body or upon the chest. when in
| those conditions, will almost surely produce
| rheumatism or collie. When wet the cloth
ing should be removed as quickly as possible
and the body rubbed dry; and extreme care
should be taken always in all places espe-
cially when heated and perspiring from exer-