The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-15

relniectlon or infection with other dis
ease may follow. and in many instances
the man is frequenter of hospitals untn
ne Is disposed of by being invalided
nome Rheumatism is practically incur
aple IN the islands, as are intestinal dis.
eases, certain diseases, (which figure SO
prominently In the statistics of English
armies in the tropics add but relatively
small proportions to the total sick
smallpox, as a result of thorough vac
clnatlon. has been almost eradicated
from both the army and the natives.
A diminution of the death of Col.
Greenleaf does not expect. The number
or men killed ins action, he thinks, will
not diminish; but improve the sanitation
VIII reduce the sick list, though the nom
preVentable diseases will constantly be-
come more severe in tpye. Evidently the
remedy lies, though Col. Greenleaf does
not say So in a constant and systema-
ized. rotation of regiments.
The average strength of the army dur
ing the period covered by the report was
approximately 1926 officers. and 6l,49S
men; OF these 160 per cent of the Of
hcers and 96 per cent of the men have
been wounded, and 81 per cent of Of
fcers and .405 per cent of the men have
been killed inptaction. Dysentery came
next to gunshot injuries with 8 per cent
of the entire commando typhoid fever
caused less than one-half as many deaths
as dysentery. Col Greenleaf reiterates
the statement that improved sanitation
must be looked to as the chief means Of
reducing the death and sick lists, and
dwells at some length on the system of
inspection adopted and it's results. The
surgical and quartermaster's depart
ments are working together along the
line indicated by experience with good
results.
The war has Impoverished the native
population, and has also drawn all the
native medical men into the Filipino
army, leaving practically no one to at
tend to the needs of the natives. Our
own medical department has therefore
been Obliged to assume the care of many
of them and of their towns, to furnish
drugs and dressings and to provide medl-
cal attendance. To do this properly "A
system of. medical charity has been
adopted and thousands OF Filipinos have
been cared for The vaccination Of
natives has been conducted on large
scale, especially in northern LuZon,
where upwards of 10000 persons had been
vaccinated up to July 81 last, with the
result that smallpox is no longer
serious menace anywhere except in those
regions where it has been Impossible to
take precautionary measures. The sub
ject of leprosy has also been considered,
and steps are to be taken to form an iso-
lation colony, like that of Molokai in the
Hawaiian islands,
On the subject Of rations, Col. Green
leaf remarks: EFT has been alleged that
the soldier Gin the tropics. should be fed
somewhat afters the manner of the
natives, largelyrCon rice and other cereals
and starchy foods, and the quantity or
his meat diminished However sound
these views may be as scientific theories
they are not supported by the results Of
practical experience. The soldier Graves
and gets, in onegway or another, the FOOD
he has been accustomed to eat at home,
and he eats it freely; he wants meat
twice or thrice a. day, and he eats bacon
or uses it in his cooking whenever he
can get it. The soldier will not use rice
either as a staple or as an accessory to
his diet. He has a strong desire for
sugar, and the)addition of candy to the
sales stores has been a. great blessing to
him. IT'D does not appear, after
careful observation, that the, food, fur.
nished by the qpresent ration produces