New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14

Insects which practically bugaooos' the sFeat
est dangers for going from Northern ia.-
tudc to a tropical climate are the diseases 10 ne
met with. OF which perhaps yellow ieVer u oi'o
Of the least be feared The reports OF fhorp'u'S
and mortality in the Spanish Army stationed IN
Cuba during the last calendar year. collated by
the Marine Hospital Service. 20 to suostantia'e
this There were ten thousand cases OF yeHo"
fever among the Spanish troops in CUBA during
the year 1871: while the number OF deaths from d"
diseases has been tabulata cd as follows:
MORTALITY OF SPANISH ARMY IN CUBA FOR 1897
Yellow fever ~,
Enters and dysentery I 800
Maaria fevcrs SNo
sunstroke. dengue. berl-berl. leprosy. etc.. 700
Deaths from all diseases. S-''4
Tho whole number Of Spanish troops IN garrison
and actively operating in Cuba last year Is not
accurately known: Il IL estimated all the way from
noO0 to 10000: but at the larger NUMBER ING
percentage Of loss from disease alone Is so'"e
thing astonishing Reports and estimates TOT Io''o
Rico during the same period show a lower ueA'i'
rate among Spanish soldiers than for Cuba though
the ratio of yellow fever mortality TO that vi
other diseases is about the same; while IN the
Philippines this saffron-hued disorder Is "ho"y
unknown.
This enormous mortality from disease among the
soldiers OF the Spanish Army, while severe re-
covcrnuent that poorly clothes. feeds and cares
for its enlisted men, suggests something more
Taken I'm connection with the experiences OF our
own soldiers at Santiago, where according ~
General Skaters report 70 per cent nave alreauy
been upon the sick list. It suggests that those ciu-
zcrs Of the United States who go In any capacity
fnfo orr prospective tropical possessions should
ne much better armed against the ma.adies which
may be met with than against more tangible Toes
Greater precautions should be taken against posi-
bile attacks OF bcri-ber. sprue, anamia. the grip
malaria. mali-mali. dysentcry. cholera. etc, than
Gains, the t,oisoncd arrows Of the savage Fill
uiras or even Cuban cooking. Danger turks In the
harbors and soil OF the West Indies as IL does III
The marshes northwest winds and typhoons OF the
PHILIPPINES. while excessive heat quickly tainted
food and water swarming with bacteria are
menace 20 life IN both regions.
First of all there are certain diseases not strictly
troplcal which occur In Southern climates with
sreat frequency. and which one has little more
excuse for contracting there than he would nave
IN WashlYgton or New-York Vaccination Is rrac-
Used but slightly among tho natives OF the west
Indies and smallpox nourishes In all parts OF
cuba throughout tho year. The same thing Is
,r,ic II the Philippines. and no one should go 10
Manila without FIRST being yaccinated. Cholera
was SIN more prevalent in that city when the IN
nabitants were accustomed to the water direct
from the river polluted with all the refuse ana
ath Of tho town; but since 1884. when the aqueduct
bringing tho water supply from tho head OF Inc
river was completed. there have been no cpldehics
IF cholera Isolated cases are not uncommon
however and flannel cholera belts are worn ny
mos, Turopcan residents. Flannel sleeping -suits
are much 10 Doe preferred 70 SILK or cotton rs they
absorb the pcrspiration check the radiation OF
neat better and thus tend 10 ward on chiils' me
kip and malaria Diseases Of the lungs. IN
Guiding tuberculosis. are very common among 'he
natives of the West Indies. as they arc among
the Filpinas. seycn'y-nye per cent % the troops
In IN. insurgcnt hospitals at Manila are SAID 10
bc suffering from lung disease OF some sort. lhat
combination OF Improper det ana eNposu.r ~
cold resulting IN dysentcry In uopica! climates IL
specially TO be avoided, for though IT may DE-
ushcrcd IN as trhnc disorder thrrr IS n" nm, i.rs
more dangerous II IL one" assumes VlruIrnt FORM.
10y 80 . 49,, ,.s,'i,s - remedy and oplurn
H. wort such cases require mos cai~iu alien
lion 20 diet IN convaI'scence. SunsroAe uctus
soisl. OWNS % the greater mummy anu n'eaot
,inp,fsfIi.s encountered, - most frequently met
ton 20 hygiene and avoiding the MONDAY heat is
worth many pounds OF cure. Cold PACKS, warm
IL is the opinion 81 physicians and others or Wide
experience that there Is little to be feared from
those diseases peculiar 10 the tropics. such as ber
h.rl sprue nflemia. dcnguc and the malaras. II
an Individual coni@rmS To- the ", liner
,. " ari,rcs OF diet partcularly tainted nsh
are ur,,ilsposIng causes By simply Introducing
eggs beef and FRESH vegetables into their ratiOns.
vim nm improved hygicnic system in six years
rom Is3 To- isss the japanese succeeded in prac-
rs $50 disease due probably to indiscretions in
Diet as It attacks tho inng 81 the almentary canal
making Il sensitive 81 that food cannot be taken
or retained with comfort II attacks foreigners al
Manila and the best remedy for II is TO get out
Of tho country speedily possible
Trorical anpmia Is also believed 70 be due 10
Improper Dict and IS directly caused by parasite
Il reddish round worm, about one-third Of an inch
In length. which does not produce the disease In
the colorcd races. Remedies are TO be found In
bitter tones and saline purees.
DonEuc. dandy or brcakbone fever occurs only In
tropical countries. and rs an epidemic. II Is char
ac'.rizcd ~ sudden chiils. followed by fever
various uainF nausea and swelling Of all tho Joints
About the third day rash breaks out on the
pllms Of the hands and spreads over the whole
body. 1t T. seldom fatal. and with simple treat
fncut rs generally over N week, though conva-
l.scancc is some lines slow.
~ tho malaral fevers, the benign variety. cal
on'tra is not dissimar 10 the malaria OF tenn
perate climates and yields promptly moderate
loeos of sulrhatc Of Quinine. The pcrniclous form
Is believed to be caused by n peculiar heat para
Site when nvados all tho organs Of the body
The membranes Of the brain. well that organ
HE sufferer is likely to be mbued with all sorts
81 fancies and dclusions. Heroic doses Of quinine
have boon recommended, but prompt removal
a Northern climate IL desirable That peculiar
disease known rali-mali which the
native Filpina TO initiate the motions OF any
person who hnppens to attract hi' or hor alton
lion IS not unlike the disorders accompanying the
dancing mania Of the Middle Ages. and one whicn
n, American citizen should fear. II is possible
that the leader Of the insurgents has contracted