Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-27
THE PHILIPPINES.
Vast Improvement in Health of City
of Manila.
Officer Explains How Ladrores Get
Their Arms.

Washington, June 2G.-Surgoon Cen
eral oReilly ha received an interest
ing report from the medical officers in
the Philippines, showing especially a
steady decrease in the death rate of the
city of Manila as n result of the opera
tions of the medical officers of the reg
ular and volunteer army since the es-
Enlistment of the board of health
under their direction in 1900. The sani-
tarV improvement which has been
brought about is shown by compara-
tive statements of the death rate of
Manila for the first quarter of the past
four years, figured for each month on
a basis of deaths occurring in each 1000
population for one year. 1t appears
from these figures that the annual
death list for the first quarter was as
follows: 1900 $3.50; 1901, 1919; 1902,
30.33; 1908, 22.17. These figures show
that so far during the present year the
Manila death rate is less than half
what it was for the same period four
years ago; and also that, based on
present estimates of population the
number Of lives which may be expect
ed to be saved in 1908, judging from
the three months already past, as
compared with the year 1860, will
amount to no less than 7442
Assistant Surgeon Munson says that
the improvem ent in the conditions this
year has been accomplished in spite of
the fact that Asiatic cholera and bu-
bonic plague had both previously
gained a foothold in the islands, and
that the existence of largely un-
vaccinated population in the provinces
meant a constant Introduction into the
city Of the infection of smallpox. Cases
of plague, cholera and smallpox have
occurred IN Manila during the present
year, but the precautions taken by the
board Of health have prevented any
epidemic outbreak therefrom.
The sanitary results obtained in the
past four years through American con-
troll have been accomplished" says Dr.
Munson, despite the naturally in
salubrious location of Manila and it's
total lack of sanitation under the for
mer sovereignty, which from the level
site interfering with drainage the
many foul canals ramifying through
the city, the absence of any sewerage
system and the existence of an impure
and insufficient water supply and many
old. unhealthful habitation-have Gre
ated sanitary problems of the great
est difficulty. The board of health has
therefore been unable to turn pre-
viouSly existing methods and cOndi-
tons to sanitary advantage and has
found 1t necessary not only to develop
entirely new plans of Improvement.
but at the same time to combat the
results of conditions Inherited from
the Spanish administration. The
mixed character of the inhabitants,
with their prejudices, superstitions and
largely primitive habits of life, has
also been constant obstacle in SAM
tary work, as evidence of which il may
be mentioned that circulars of the
board of health are necessarily pub
lished in the English, Spanish, Taga-
log and Chinese languages.
Attention is invited to the fact that
the present annual mortality in Manila
2211, is lower than that of many cities
not commonly regarded all unhealthful
situated in the the United States and
elsewhere. Washington city is in
Guided in this list, with an annual
death rate per 1000 in 1900 of 22SO. Ac-
cording to DR.. Munson the present
death rate of Manila compares not I'M
favoraby with that of many repre-
sentative cities throughout the world.
which possess all modern sanitary con-
veniences, a long established govern
ment and a highly educated population,
such as San Francisco, Boston and
New York, Glasgow. Paris, Vienna
and Havana.
General Lee commanding the De-