The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-29
Rosy BlBONC PLAGUE AND SMALLPOX IN THE PHILIPPINES

gether more than sixty thousand collins
were furnished for plague patients.
II is said that 10 per cent OF the people
OF the Philippines are suffering from skin
diseases, and from the amount OF scratch
ing see going on Judge that the figures
are not overdrawn. Every second person
you meet, whether man, woman or child.
jerks his clothes this way and that. APP
parently hunting for fieas. The Diseases
arc largely caused by eating fish, which
forms the chief diet OF the native Filipino.
IL brings about a fish eczema, In which the
skin scales or. making tho patient look at
times not unlike leper. Then there II
the dobe itch, which is so common that at
least one-third OF the foreigners have had
it. This is supposed to be caused by a
parasite which comes In the water in
which the clothes are cleaned by the Fill
Pine washwomen. IL usually attacks the
toes, the armpits and the parts OF the body
which perspire most profusely. causing a
rash. II sets one almost crazy. but It Is
easily cured and is not at all dangerous.
The natives themselves pay but little at
tention to such diseases, although they
have numerous medicinal plants. and the
mineral springs, hot and cold. which are
found in different parts OF the islands ara
very well patrcnized-
The most dangerous OF all the skin dis
eases IL, of course, the smallpox. which
places. 1t exists along tho limo OF the rail-
way in Luxon and at several OF the ports.
and IL said to be spreading In Panay and
Cebu Several officers OF the army have
had IL, but as yet Il has not affected the
foreigners To any extent The spring
months are the most dangerous times OF
the year for this disease. The weather Ia
hot and dry. and the heat from noon unui
about ,. m. Ia often oppressive.
called at the health department today
and made somo inquiries OF the doctors.
They are not alarmed at thu situation, but
say they are vaccinattng an many people
as possible. A wholesale vaccination OF ali
the people would be good thing n II could
be carried out IL must be remembered,
however. that there are 100000 Of them
and that at least T.9va.0Vo. i should say.
need such treatment. Practically no vac
nination had been attempted among tho
lower classes up 10 the time OF our taking
possession OF the islands. The people DO
not look upon smallpox as we do. They
are like the Chinese IN that many Of them
pay no more attention TO II than they do
20 a bad cold. They do not care 10 be vac
olnated and the Chinese especially object
20 having their arms scratched UP ~ tho
doctors
A Cardiac Vaccine Farm.
Nevertheless. tho doctors are making
many vaccinations. They have establish
ed a vaccine farm hero a. which they use
young cafabaos. or water buffaloes. 90 far.
nish tho virus, instead Of cows as with
us. Ten thousand paints 50 treated were
sent out in response TO one order ysstar-
day. and carabao vaccine IL being dis
irisutcd through ell thu army posts.
went out TO the vaccine farm this morn
Ing and watched the mode Of treating ths
animals. A earAtao calf about a year old
Was lying strapx,ea down upon a table as
I entered the operating hall Tho head
and three legs q the beast were strapped
70 the .abi1. The animal lay upon It's side.
IS head and three Legs 40 fastened that
X could not move, and its fourth leg. one
% the hind ones. 50 strapped 70 a BoNt