The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-23
War Department Fearful of the
Effects of the Plague Upon
the Army.
FIFTY SOLDIERS HAVE DIED.
Death Rate Is SeventyFive Per
Cent and III Many Cases II Is
Necessary to Use Force
10 Make Inspection.
.FtPTEI.Ic SPECIAL.

FtPrBI.IC SPECIAL.
Washington. June 22.-Iate reports of the
rayasos of the cholera in the Philippines
show that the plague is sweeping the
archipelago. officials OF the War Depart
ment here are fearful Of the effect of the
epidemic upon the army Fifty deaths OF
soldiers have been occasiUued hy cholera. it
is reported, within two months.
General Chaffse's report. made public yes
terdgy TO TIE effect that twenty-five deaths
OF enlisted men had occurred I'm the two
! weeks between April q and May 6. was the
first news that the disease was making
much progress in any except the native sec
tons of Manila and other cities.
Lieutenant Colonel Adair is now the rank
ing medical officer in The Philippines. and
probably will he called upon bv Surgeon
General Forwood to make 4 full report on
the progress of the epidemic and the meas
ureS taken to suppress ii.
Despite the fact that the army medical
authorities and the officers Of the Marine
Hospital! service are cooperating i'll isOlat-
ing and QuarantininS cases. there is great
danger that the epidemic will increase dur
ing the summer. The hottest season of the
year in the islands Is July and August. ana
ii i much harder 10 fight cholera at sucb
a tine.
Medical Inspection by Force.
The death rate is now very hIgh-.5 per
cent. Among natives the death rate is even
higher. In 1852, when there were 5000
deaths IN the Philippines from cholera. the
plague was stopped only by the heavy show
ers OF the rainy season.
Manila, with its 5000 inhabitants. has
been divided into districts, each one OF
which is in direct charge of a medical Off
Ger. The medical stan now engaged in this
work was increased by twenty-five surgeons
several months ago.
Natives are distrustful of the medical Of
hCers and Ii Is necessary 20 make Il house
toulouse canvass every morning to ascer-
tain the new cases. Merchants of Manila
are opposed to medical inspection. as it
breaks up trade. and. in many instances,
the inspection has TO be made by force.
No Case Has Crossed Ocean.
A recent report received at the War De-
partrnent stated that the priests of the
Roman Catholic Church. who have great
the medical inspection and the medical Of
ficers have to combat their eff
feet. Soldiers, however. dread the cholera
and watch themselves and their comrades
for any symptom OF II.
Colonel Reizemann. the Surgcon-in-Chie
of the Philippines. has returned 10 this
ing in his stead. Colonel Maus is at the
head of the Board OF Health in Manila. and
the fight against the cholera has been con-
Quoted under his direction.
Doctor J. c. Perry. Chief Quarantine Of
fcer of the Philippines. has made several
reports to SURGEON General Wyman. com
The utmost care is exercised in the in
srection of passengers bound for the United
States or for Hong-Kong; and of those who
come to Manila from Hong-Kong. where.
however, the cholera IS less prevalent than
in Manila.
Service have been successful is evident from
the fact that not a case has been reported
in this CoUntr-.