The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-11
HIS REPORT.
Sent by Surgeon General to
Tho Secretary Of War.

Washington, Oct. II.-Surgeon General
Sternburg has made his annual report TO
the secretary OF war He says the health
OF the army has been unusually good dur
ing the calendar year, 1900.
The admission rate TO hospitals for all
causes I'm the army, volunteers and regu-
lars. with a mean strength OF 10O.SS9 I'm
1900 was 2.Sl1.S1 per thousand of strength
as compared with 2l7s.O6 in the previous
year but during the year 20 only 49, $50
men out OF n total of l05,546 were serving
in the Philippines while during the past
year 6s.Ss2 of total OF ,Ss9 were thus
serving.
In the Philippine Islands with a mean
strength OF 66,Ss2 the admission rate was
262l.se as compared with 23g552 in the pre-
vious year, this increase being mainly
due to disease among the volunteers the
ratio for which rose from 1882 TO 1861 10.
The regulars on the other hand showed
a marked decrease in the rate of admis-
sion for disease. which fell from 2454 10
TO 21s773. Two-thirds OF the admissions
for disease were caused by malarial fe-
vers and diarrh peal diseases. The deaths
from all causes amounted 10 2S75 per
thousand OF strength as compared with
30.Ss i'm the previous year. Disease occa-
stoned POPS deaths, the principal cause OF
the fatalities being dysentery. which with
other intestinal diseases gave a ratio of
9.0s.
The rate OF injury amounted TO $40.
The death rate i'm China was large.
s.76 per thousand of strength, 2S62 from
"A ataI A grKfa o IA.
close OF the calendar year 1900 10 the la
test reports. the health OF the troops in
the Philippines has been steadily inn
proving.
The health OF the troops I'm Cuba dur
ing the year was excellent.
As result OF American occupation
nearly every city and town has had it's
sanitary con-. lions improved
Speaking OF special diseases Gen. Stern
berg says:
'The steady decrease or late wears in
the admissions for alcoholism among the
men OF the regular army is matter for
congra tulation. Military officers may be
said 20 be unanimous I'm their opinion
that this was mainly the result Of the es-
tablishment OF the post exchange or can
teen at military posts. There Is less
drunkenness among the troops I'm active
service than I'm command doing garrl-
son duty i'm times of peace"
Reporting upon the stuuy or yellow fe-
yer by board I'm Cuba. Gen. Sternberg
says:
"The results obtained were especially
valuable showing that the bacillus icter-
oidas (sanarellD bears no csusative rela-
tion 10 yellow fever and that ,ae mosquito
serves as an intermediate host for the
parasite OF tnis disease Further expert
ments OF n most interesting character
demonstrated that yellow fever r. trans
mtted TO non immunes by the bite OF a
mosquito that has previously fed on tho
blood Of those sick with this disease that
yellow fever can also he produced by the
subcutanous injection OF blood taken
from the general circulation during the
first and second days OF the disease: that
an attack OF yellow fever produced by the
bite Of tho mosquito confers immunity
against the subsequent Injection or In
Tested blood: that yellow fever Is not
conveyed by clothing. bedding or mer-
chandise soiled by contact with those sick
with the disease: that "A house be said 20
be infected with yellow fever only when
there are present I'm Il mosquitoes capable
Of conveying the parasite OF the disease
and that the spread OF yellow fever can
be most effectually controlled by meas-
ures directed 90 the destruction of mos
uuitos and the protection or the sick
against the bites OF these Insects
Gen. Sternberg says results Of the
Investigation are OF far reaching inn
portance. as tho surgeons are now I'm
possession of knowledge which enables
them TO stamp out yellow fever.