The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-29
HEALTH CONDITIONS EXISTING
IN CUBAN TOWNS.
clan Sent for the Purpose OF Form
ing Quarantine Regulations.


NEW YORK, oct, 2S- DR.. Luclen +.
salomon, who for ten years was secre-
tary OF the state board OF health OF
Louisiana, and is one OF the most proml-
nent practiclng physicians In New or
leans. Is IN New York, having just re-
turned from Porto Rico. whittier he went
three weeks ago on a special mission for
the Louisiana state board OF health to
study conditions in the island. especially
regarding contagious and Infectious dis
eases with view to framing any quar-
Nntine regulations found necessary when
commercial relations with the island
are established.
Dr, Solomon visited Ponce. San Juan,
Mayaguez and several small towns in
the interior. He sailed on October from
New York on the transport ort Victor
and returned on the Manitoba.
Or. Solomon said that while general
health conditions on the island are bad.
he found no contagious or infectious ais
eases, except smallpox which is always
there TO limited extent when he left
Ponce last Saturday there were II cases
OF smallpox in tho pest house outside the
city, gathered from Ponce district, but
none In the city itself,
There was no yellow fever on the is
land at the time Of his visit and prev
iously only one authenticated case among
the United States troops at Ponce, the
origin Of which could not be traced.
There was also one case reported at
MayagueE about two months ago,
mr.
been introduced from time to time by
Spanish troops but had never gained a
foothoF The most serious epidemic
was eight years ago, but there has been
none since.
Prevailing diseases on the island, Or.
Salomon found, are typhoid fever in a
mild form. which Is generally called
Continued malaria fever by the resi-
dent physicians and tuberculosis. which
Is prevalent,
The prevalence of the latter disease,
no considers, due to the poverty and
habits OF the people whose food is lack
ing in nourishment and whose homes are
unsanltary. The mortality among people
from bowel complaints, Is very large,
fully sixty per cent of the deaths in the
island being in this class,
The sanitary conditions of the towns
Is very bad and only three towns on the
island Ponce. Mayaguez and Yauco, have
a regular water supply. Ponce has a
partial but wholly inadequate system.
There is absolutely no sewerage system,
The health of the United States troops
is bad, at least ten per cent of them be-
ing constantly III from typhoid fever,
Last Friday when he visited the gen.
eral hospital at Ponce, he found $50 i'll
there alone.
Much Of this illness, he declares, is due
to bad water, and for much of IL, he says
the soldiers themselves are to blame.
They eat unripe fruit. drink anything
they can get, and especially large guam
titles Of particularly vile rum manu-
factured on the island,
HOSPITALS built by the Spanlards are,
he declares, admirably situated for this
purpose and eNcellently managed by the
American surgeons. There is much
homeslckness among the troops and a
great deal of discomfort at the prospect
of garrison duty,
"The effect of these conditions" Mr..
Salomon said, are not conducive of a
desire to remain. The population is not
friendly, and only about half of 1t Is
classed as white, and they are very much
mixed In color"
DR.. Salomon will recommend that nc
quarantine be established against Porto
Rico by the state Of Louisiana. He con-