The evening times., 1899-02-14
SICK SOLDIERS IN MANILA.
Statement From Surgeon Genera
SIGrnher ~. Sent In Gau-rexa

Statement From Surgeon General
StcrnberE Sent to Congress.
In answer to resolution, Secretary AL
ger has sent to Congress a statement from
Surgeon General Sternberg, United States
Army. giving the percentage of soldiers in
the Philippines who are, or have been
sick: OF the number of deaths there from
sickness, and stating when, according to
the generally accepted time, the sickly
season begins in those islands. The let
ter says that the percentage of soldiers
now in the Philippine Islands who are sick
or who have been sick, in some regiments
has been as high as II, but the average has
seldom exceeded 10 per cent. General Otis
In his cablegram of February 2, 1899. states
That ~ per cent of the command is now
reported sick, the great majority of the
cases being slight ailments"
Climatic diseases do not appear so far
TO have been attended with unu sual mortal
ity Malarial diseases have caused no
death. The total death rate, taken from
the reports submitted by medical officers
for the months July to October, inclusive.
equals an annual death rate CT sc per / OCO
men. This is only slightly in excess of
that which prevails in the garrisons of
the United States in time of peace The
average annual death rate of the army for
the decade 1SS6-lS95 was 7.l2 Typhoid
fever in the Philippines caused deaths
equal TO an annual rate of Sic per 600
men, or more than half of the total death
rate. III the deaths from this fever, which
is not a climatic disease, be excluded from
consideration, the remaining mortality
from all causes in the Philippines would
be less than the corresponding mortality in
the United States.
The number of admissions to the Ma
Mia hospitals is said TO have been large,
due mainly to malarial diseases. which
are climatic. and TO diarrhoeaI diseases
which are no doubt in large part due to
errors and Irregularities Of diet on the
part of the affected individuals. The ma
larial diseases exceed their prevalence in
the United States in the proportion of 270
TO 96, and the diarrheeal diseases in the
proportion of 445 10 ll6 or about 10 l in
both instances.
Injuries, Notwithstanding 127 cases OF
wounds received at Cavite and Manila,
give smaller rate of admissions than is
ordinarily found among United States
troops in their home garrisons; and the
death rate from accidents and injuries is
| less than in these garrisons, potwithstand-
| ing the fatal ending OF eight of the 127
cases OF battle casualties. Diseases of the
respiratory organs, which are TO a large
| extent clima ,ic, are. so far as reported,
| less prevalent in Manila than in the
United States.
Reports Ct sick and wounded of dates
| later han October have not as yet been
received, but recent sanitary reports show
the prevalence of smallpox in several CT
the regiments, with a relatively high
death rate from the disease. Climate is
| not responsible for this outbreak, which
he says ought speedily TO be suppres sed
by vaccination isolation, disinfection, and
other sanitary measures.
AS TO when the sickly season begins in
| the Philippines, General Sternberg says
that the experience of the troops gives no
| information. The generally accepted view
| is that in March, April, and May fevers
are of more frequent occurrence than al
| other periods of the year