The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
THE PLAGUE IN MANILA
Reports Show 1t TO BE Confined A.
most Entirely to Chinese.
A Special Sanitary Department Es-
fabIi-bed TO Combat the ScourEc-
Efforts RcinE Made to Check the
Spread of Lcprosy The General
Health Of the Soldiers Improving.

The War Department has Just received
from Manila several mailed reports on the
outbreak Of the bubonic plague in the Phil
ippines. These reports show that the
dreaded disease has been confined almost
entirely 20 Chinese. From December .
10 January 20, a period Of three weeks,
there were fourteen genuine cases Of the
plague. with eleven deaths. On January "a
two more cases were reported by the sani-
tary inspectors Of the Health Department.
Both were Cinnamon.
The reports show that the disease has not
spread beyond Manila, and General Otis las
established special sanitary department
for The purpose Of combating leprosy as
well as the plague The San Lazaro Hos
pital is being used as pesthouse. Great
assistance is being rendered by thirtytwo
Chinese citizens under the direction OF the
Chinese Consul. Inspectors of the sani-
tary department make regular rounds
through the Chinese quarters, each in
spector being accompanied by one OF these
Chinese.
prominent Chinaman named Don Car
los Palanca has assumed the personal di-
rection of the work of the Chinese rolun-
teers. all OF whom are fluent Spanish
speakers and are familiar with the Tagalo
tongue. Major Brown, of the Medical De-
partment is making every effort TO stamp
out the disease. Every house where infec-
tious diseases OF any kind are reported is
thoroughly disintected and the residents
yaccinated
Major Eddie who is in charge OF the
health department, has urged upor Gen
eral Otis the great need of well estab-
lished municipal laboratory. In Spanish
days there were four laboratories for ana
lytical purposes in Msnila-a municipal,
medico-legal and military laboratory and
the vaccine station. The vaccine station
has been continued, and military labora-
tory established in conjunction with the
First Reserve Hospital.
The work of the important branch OF the
health department under Major Brown has
been so effective that on January 20 but
five cases of plague were in the pest hes
pital. Three cases OF leprosy were discov-
cred on that day, two being Tagalos and
one a Chinaman. The reports say that
cases of leprosy are being discovered nearly
every day, and 1t is surprising how much
OF it has existed. So far there have been
no cases of plague reported among Ameri-
can troops or civilians. 1t was reported in
Manila that there was one suspected case
on board the cruiser New Orleans, but the
officials at General Otis headquarters had
10 confirmation Of the report.
Cable advices received at the War De-
partment from General Otis show that the
health of the soldiers is gradually improv-
ing The number of sick in the hospitals
of Manila and Corregidor Island has been
reduced nearly LOCO within five weeks. On
January 10 General Otis reported 2,435 sick
in the hospitals. A later report reduced
this to 1887. On February IS the number
of sick was 2,05l, and on February &c Cen
eral Otis cabled that the sick numbered
1851, being a reduction of 90i since jan
uary 1e.
Military hospitals have now been estab
lished al Cavite, Corregidor Island, San
Fabian. Dagupan, and Iloilo. General Otis
Is so well pleased with the peaceful con-
ditions prevailing at these places that he
has permitted trained female nurses to
work in each of these hospitals. 1t has
also been decided to place two trained
nurses on each of the army transports 10
assist in the care of convalescent soldiers
returning 10 the United States.