The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-11
ANOTHER PHILIPPINE HORROR.

or all the horrors for which our crime
OF Imperialism. as expressed in the Ma
tional determination to rule the Philip
pines with shot and shell is responsible.
none are comparable to the policy OF keep
ing American soldiers in the islands so
long as to produce insanity among them.
Discussion as to the effects OF the Phil
cans has been going on for months. A
vast difference of opinion has obtained
throughout, with the result that no fixed
conclusion has been reached Some have
held that the heat Of the islands is not
oppressive and some have gone so far as to
assert that the climate is really delightful.
while as many more have held to opposing
contention. Amid all this conflict tho
general public acquired the idea that resi-
dence in the Philippines would become
tolerable and wholesome after a season
of acclimation which within itself would
not prove fatal. Mere opinion, however.
nor mere speculation can sand against
the inexorable logic Of fact.
republican contemporary. the Chicago
Times Herald is responsible for the state
ment that Captain G. r. Woodruff. an az
sJant surgeon in the army, declares that
'fthe steady, persistent heat is very trying
and is wrecking the constitutions of our
strongest soldiers"
Hero is statement that true, and It
has the weight OF official authority, should
hasten the substitution OF troops on tho
Islands with now ones II the miserable
war must needs be prosecuted intermina-
bly,. system Of transfers might be adopt
ed that would limit tho stay of Americans
on the islands to period that would stop
short of the wreck of the strongest con-
stltuticns" without in any way Gripping
the efficiency Of our army in dealing with
foe 80 much It's inferior.
The country has been shocked With the
great number OF insane patients that have
been landed from our returning troop
transports at San Francisco It has been
slow to attribute this appalling Insanity to
climatic conditions in the Philippines.
Physically the effect 10 shown in the fol-
lowing Instances:
Soldiers who appeared to be Just as
strong as at home found themselves done
up after Ave innings at baseball. Again
1t seems that the eyes are troubled. In
a number of cases there was inability to
read through pnress OF accommodation.
great many have complained OF the
glasses.
But more alarming is the effect upon
nerves and brain. It is as II there were a
violent epidemic OF nervous, prostratlons
which paralyzes the mental faculties. To
illustrate the symptoms several examples
are given. One officer complained that
'on the previous afternoon at O'Clock he
found that he could not remember any
thing he read. When he got 10 the end
OF sentence he had forgotten the begin
ming A surgeon could not remember
the answers OF his patients, a general Of
feer could not act upon his papers because
he had forgotten all about the subject.
In every one OF abe cases it is clear that
the men were UNIT for duty"
Slowly the awful facts OF the
| dangers OF the Philippine climate
10 American troops are stealiag homo in
the National understanding. They should
not go unheeded. As our contemporary
declares. they are at least serious enough
10 demand investigation"