Evening star., 1901-10-08
Observations on His Tour of the
Philippines.
HEALTH CONDITIONS SAFISF FACTORY
Pleased With What He Saw in
the Hospitals.
THE IMPROVEMENTS IN VIEW

Surgeon General Sternberg resumed his
duties at the War Department this morn
ing after an absence of several months
profitably spent in an inspection of the
medical department of the army in the
Philippines. Referring to his observations
IN the Philippines. he said to Star re-
porter this morning:
'Of course. I directed my attention al
most entirely to the affairs of the medical
department. / found the health conditions
very satisfactory. I was very much sur
prised to find that in the lowlands which
are devoted to rice culture there is COM
paratively little maIarial fever. Similar To-
calities in our own southern states are
very much more unheaithful. If the paddy
fields along the line of the Dagupan rail-
road were in Louisiana or South Carolina
there is no doubt that il would be almost
impossible for white men to live in their
immediate vicinity account OF the Sc
we're forms of malarial fever whicn vi ould
undoubtedly prevail in such localities. Ma
lar1al feYerS are somewhat more prevalent
at higher levels. but the SUBMITS Of the
mountain ranges are as a rule quite health
full.
Effect of Improved Conditions.
Typhoid fever is not so prevalent as
it is in most parts of the United States.
and the mortality from that disease in the
in our camps in the United States during
the Spanish-American war. Dysentery is
the most serious disease with which we
have TO contend but when the troops are
supplied with pure water and not exposed
TO the hardships attending hike this dis
ease does not prevail. No doubt, as condi-
tionS become more favorable and the
troops provided with suitable barracks,
the mortality from this disease will be very
much reduced Pulmonary consumption
alaTr in ha
considerable number of cases have de-
veioped among our own soldiers. These
cases are at once sent to the United States,
and are trea ted in our Sanitarium at Fort
Bayard. New Mexico. The plague con-
tinues to prevail to some extent in Manila,
victims being mostly Chinese or natives.
At the time L left Manila but three cases
mad occurred among our soldiers. L do not
anticipate any extension of the disease
among our troops.
Hospitals in Excellent Condition.
Il found the supply depot loaded with
supplies and the hospitals in excellent con-
dition- Certainly no troops of any country
or In any part of the world have ever been
so literally supplied with everything neces-
Sary for the treatment and care of the
sick The female nurses are doing excel
lent work. and all with whom I conversed
were conte1ted and desirous of remaining
IN the service. Our volunteer medical off,
the army reorganization act are selected
men. all OF whom have had previous ex-
perience in the service. AS a rule they are
We'll qualified professionally and are atten-
tive to their duties. The hospitals which
were built by the Spaniards and which we
now occupy are well located and we'll
adapted to the climate. They have been
put IN good sanitary condition and are in
every way satisfactory. AT many places
We have been obliged to make use of con-
vents. barracks or private houses. Money
has been appropriated for putting these
1uiidihgs IN the best possible sanitary con-
dftion, and as a whole. they furnish salts
factory accommodations for the sick.
The COnvaIescent Hospital,
The convalescent hospital at Corregidor
Island is we'll located, and will probably be
enlarged. 1t had been my intention to visit
Benguet for the purpose of ascertaining
whether it was a suitable locality for the
establishment of a convaIescent hospital
but | found 1t impracticable to go there
during the time 1 was in Manila as the
Dagupan railroad had been washed away
and the mountain trails We're reported prac-
tlcally impasSable during the rainy season
The Philippine commission is now building
road 10 the Benguet region and hopes to
nave ii completed within five or six months
The question of locating a sanitarium in
that mountain district, which no doubt pos
sesses cool and invigorating climate, can
not be determined until the projected road
Is completed. We have given up one hos
pital in Manila. and will probably do the
same with the Santa Maceo Hospital after
while. Considerable was done toward re-
organizing the hospital system on an eco
nomical basis while I was I'm the Philip
pines. but that matter has already been
published