The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-28

knether serious problem which con-
fronts the military government Of the
Philippines is the matter of stamping out
leprosy. which has been found to be very
prevalent in some Of the Islands. The
disease has been receiving the attention
OF the surgeons Of the army in the Phil
Ippines fer some time, with q view to
adopting means whereby the spread OF the
plague may be prevented Il is estimated
that there are at least 90 .GG6 cases seat
tered through the islands. the greater
number being IN the yisayas. The disease
IS Of long standing. having been intro
dueed in 1888 when the Emperor OF Japan
sent $50 cases TO the Franciscan fathers
to be treated and cared for.
Major G. L Edie. the President of the
Board of Health of Manila, and Major L.
N Maus, surgeon. have given careful
study TO the disease IN the Islands. and to
methods for handling it and preventing an
epidemic at any time. They declare that
Is viii be at least 100 years before the last
traces of leprosy can be exterminated
from the islands, and that the presence OF
the vast number Of cases found is q great
menace to the health of the people there.
They have made certain recommendations
fer handling the patients, and these are
contained IN the report Of the Surgeon
General of tie Army.
In the drSt place it is proposed that the
lepers shall be isolated on an island and
restrained from coming in contact with the
healthy population. the same as is deEe
with the lepers OF Hawaii. For the carry
iisg cat Of This plan it is suggested that
the board of health have full co5trol Of the
- Tor r,ezI - >
ment be set apart for the lePers, and that
other land be acquired upon which to place
thsa Then IL is recommended that q
board Of officers be appointed. IN addition
to the board Of health to consist Of cue
medical officer. one quarternaster and one
judge advocate to prepare plans for build
ings and accommodations and arrange for
suppliesAand allowances for the patients
Il Is proposed 10 isolate all persons
deemed capable OF spreading the disease,
and to make it imperative upon police and
district authorities to search out and ar
rest Iepers and assist in their conveyance
TO q place Of detention Penalties are sug
gested for eonesalEaent. or for assistance
rendered while q lerer Is attempting con-
cealmsnt 4 further recommendation Is
made for the establishment of hospitals IN
the Islands where Ieproas persons in incip-
lent stages can be treated in order to at
tempt q cure III commenting upon the
plan suggested, the report says:
1t IS expected thai many Of the iepers
or their friends viii build tEeir own
houses. SIS a number of them are well-to-
do. As the question Of Ieprosy is one
which will have TO BE reek0ned with by
the inhabitants OF Gre islands for the next
loo years, 1t Is especially important that
the best site be selected, and the right be-
ginning made. For this reason the ap-
poin tment Of board which viii fully in
vestigate and study the subject has been
persistentiy asked FOR
s.The former Military Governor ap-
proved the suggestions made upon this
subject by the Manila board OF health.
and decided to appoint a board Of three