The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-07
TUBERCULOSIS IN MANILA.
Cause of the Greatest Number of
Deaths Among Adults.

A comparison of the annual death rate
per 1,00a habitants of Manila with that
Of some of the large tropical cities and
some of the Dopulous centres of the
United States. as shown by papers, has
been recently prepared by the Division Of
Insular Affairs at the War Department
The animal death rate per 1000 of
Manila for 1900 was "a. A. Hongkong 23.s3
Bombay 5l.36. Rio Janeiro 81 II. New York
20-5S. Philadelphia 10. SO. A comparison of
the respective causes of death shows
that there is practically no cause for
alarm in the plague figures, but the mum
Der of deaths attributed to other causes
is, in some cases. rather high.
All over the-worId one-seventh of the
deaths are from pulmonary tuberculosis,
in spite of all epidemics and plaques
Even were plague at it's highest in Manila
it is probable that the number of deaths
in that city would not exceed those re-
sulting from the first mentioned disease.
Next to infantile diseases the highest num-
Der of deaths are recorded under the head
of pulmonary tuberculosis. For instance,
Manila vital statistics for the month Of
December recorded 1Us deaths from pull
monary tuberculosis and 1S9 from infan-
tile diseases.
As evidence Of the seriousness with
which pulmonary tuberculosis has come
to be regarded by health authorities all
over the world, 1t may be stated that
San Francisco has instituted "A quaran-
tine against all cases OF consumption
which enter that port. The disease is ex-
tremely common all over these islands,
due to the climate and the peculiar sus-
ceptibility of the native constitution to
the disease. II would seem that there is
more to fear from an increase OF this
complaint that from an increase in
plague.
There is no record that the Philippines
was ever visited by big epidemic of bu-
bonic plague, and 1t is most remarkable
that while this dreadsdisease has period
icaty appeared and ravaged Hongkong
and Macao Manila has remained immune.
Some alarm was caused last year by the
discovery of a few sporadic cases of the
disease in Intramuros. but owing to the
prompt action taken by the sanitary au-
thorities an epidemic was prevented. The
outbreak. however, had beneficial effect
in that it aroused the health authorities
to the possibility of the city being Wis
tied by an epidemic of plague, and caused
them to take steps to prevent the disease
establishing Itself here.
From that tine sharper outlook has
been kept for suspected cases. Since 1t
has been proven that rats spread the dis
ease quickly the authorities have dis
trfbuted rat poison to the houses and in
December ], $3.50 houses were 50 supplied. A
summary Of bubonic plague In Manila for
the past year shows that the annual death
rate from the disease was sixty-six per
] $50; 27l cases were reported during the
year. of whom 1879 died
This is very small death rate for that
disease. compared with the number of
deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis.
which. taking the month of December as
a fair. average, is accountable fer 1,296
during the year The number of deaths
fVg,T oil.
can hardly be taken into consideration,
and for tropical city the death rate of
Manila shows a decrease in many cases.
and compares favorably with the health
lest cities of the same population.