The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-08-15
when case Of cholera is discovered

Wuen case OF cnOlera is ulScCVereu |
the patient is removed TO the hospital
at once. All the contacts people |
who were in the immediate proximity |
ARE isolated and taken to the deten-
tion camp on the outskirts OF the city
on a little knoll overlooking the city.
Here they are kept under close surveil-
lance for five days. II they do not de-
velop cholera in the meantime they
are free to return to their homes.
They are we'll taken care Of. Ask an
"hombre" after his return about the
treatment accorded him there and his
face lights up Immediately as he an
Swers with much enthusiasm, "Mucho
bieno chow chow" very good food.
They are treated with kindness and
consideration and soon seem to forget
all about cholera. The house In the
meantime is thoroughly disinfecttd
with chloride of lime and carbolic acid
after which 1T is held in quarantine
for five days.
1t is all this procedure to which the
Filipino objects. The willy Chino, too,
both through ignorance and because
he does not want his business inter-
rupted, will not cooperate with the
Americans. To obviate all this they
dispose Of their dead by throwing them
into near by rivers and canals. Often
they bury them under houses or carry
them away under cover Of darkness.
Sometimes they will shamefully desert
a patient upon becoming aware OF his
illness.
In this connection it might be we'll
to mention some Of the symptoms that
are characteristic Of patient who is
thus afflicted. My work did not bring
me directly in contact with patients
or the dead. Yet l have seen patients
and case where the disease proved
fatal. The disease is characterized by
sinking OF the eyes, severe pains in
the stomach, the extremities becom.
ing cold and clammy, finger nails turn
ing black and high fever. In its most
virulent form the patient Shrivels up
completely and soon dies. A peculiar
ity of the disease is that the fever in
creases in intensity for few moments
after the patient is dead.
But all this the native faces with
calm indifference. Unless he is forced
to adopt preventive measures he will
not do SO. The work OF the sanitary
inspectors was devoted largely to urg-
ing the natives to clean up, to see that
all food was properly cooked and water
we'll boiled before it was used. 1t was
also the duty Of the Inspector to see
that the native inspectors did the
work, as they are easily covered by
| threats and brides from their own peo-
pie. Tue board OF health was TO con-
siderable extent dependent upon ma
tive inspectors for assistance.
In several respects the cholera will
prove to be a veritable "blessing in
disguise" TO these people. IL will be
the cause OF cleaning up for Manila
such as she has never witnessed in her
history. The average "hombre'' never
thinks of removing the accommodations
beneath his shack which are usually
the result Of negligence from time inc
memorial. Why should he; that is
supposed to be attended to by the
many domestic animals-the scrawny
Filipino dog, the pigs and the omni-
present rooster! On the other hand 1t
must be said of the native that per-
sonally he is usually clean, always So
Der, polite and possessed OF unbound
ed hospitality. Never did l enjoy more
genuine hospitality than did in going
the rounds as sanitary inspector.
They invariably offer you the best Of
everything they have. The treatment
you receive is uniformly the same
wherever you go, no matter how hum
BILE the shack.
Aside from the pathos and serious
ness attending the work, there occurs
many amusing incdedts, especially in
the case of the willy Chino who resorts
to all sorts OF expedients to avoid
quarantine regulations. To burn a
mans shack, as is often done, just
because he has the cholera appears too
absurd to his limited conception, so
his willy and fertile brain is put to
good use to prevent such catastrophe
from taking place.
1t is in the early hours Of the morn
ing that you see some really interest
ing sights. 1t is then that the native
goes to church for early mass, or to
market for early mess, as the case may
be, for he is an early riser. To even
the most casual observer the market
affords an excellent place for the study
OF the native and Chino character.
A small, half-naked child will come
up shivering to small Chino store
where little Of everything that is
poor is sold, when the following con-
versation ensues: Chino-"Magcano?"
what do you VANITY COLLABORATING
qualta cigarillos." Two cents worth
of cigarettes.) These are carefully
! counted out and the child returns to