Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
Ing transients. b.105 wereFreported as oc-
curing in males and S,669ttn females.

Nihet! 70 one hundred years. .......'.'' ca
More than one hundred years. ~
In thirty seven instances ase-was not reported.
1T will be noted that very high death
rate among infants is the, chief factor In
the general result, A.23 per cent of the
total number of deaths having occurred
under one year Of age. For the month OF
June the number Of deaths reported from
commissions OF children alone exceeded the
combined mortality from Asiatic cholera,
bubonfc plague, smallpox malarial fevers,
typhoid fever and beri beri. This shocking
infant mortality is largely the result Of
ignorance concerning their proper care and
FEEDING and difficulty in obtaining suitable
food for those who cannot be nursed by
their mothers.
''Forty-eight and three-tenths per cent of
the total deaths and still-births In Manila
sence Of any treatment by qualified physi-
clans. Many of the more ignorant ma
tives are fatalists, regarding disease as a
thing which can be checked only by the
Will or God. For this reason, and because
many do not understand that free treat
ment can be obtained from the Filipino and
Chinese municipal physicians, a large part
OF the population goes without medical as
slstance OF any sort, and this materially
tends to swell the death rate.
very substantial reduction in the death
rate Will result from better care of infants,
a new water supply which may be looked
Tor In comparatively short time; a gen.
erai sewerage system, the improvement Of
the esteros and the filling in of low lands.
Inc total number of births reported in
Manila was 1887. giving rate of 1889 per
thousand The returns are unquestonably
very incomplete, and large number Of
births have doubtless occurred which have
not been reported. Improvement in reports
was noticeable toward the end of the year,
however and 1t Is hoped that reliable birth
statistics may soon be obtained The prob
lem OF securing them Is complicated by the
ract that among the Filipinos midwives or
physicians are not summoned in the ma
jority Of cases.
The Floating Population"
"Mucn trouble has been caused the board
OF health by the floating population Of Ma
Mia, Consisting of some 1900 souls, who
reside upon cascos lorchas, launches and
ether small vessels plying on the river, the
esteros end the bay. They are an unruly
set and are difficult to keep under super
vision on account Of the constant move
ments OF their floating habitations 1t has
not proved practicable to prevent their pol
iutlng the river and the esteros with refuse
ana excreta, nor can they be restrained
from using infected waters for drinking
cooking and bathing. Cholera has occur
red among this class to a larger extent
than among any other class of the popula-
ton. Only too often they hurry their sick
ashore and abandon them or weight the
bodies OF the dead and drop them into the
water az night in order to escape having
thoii VI al - NASAliSSleo 1He pTOU-
lens presented by this floating population
are very difficult of solution. They cannot
well be compelled to take up their residence
ashore ncr can their vessels be obliged to
anchor In the bay. They might be COM
PEELED, during the daytime at least, to make
use of public latrines situated at convenient
points on the shore. An adequate supply of
good drinking water should be made avail
able for them at convenient points SO that
they may have no excuse for drinking river
water. During the year a launch has been
kept in constant use by the board of health
inspecting the carrying out of sanitary
work among these 4denizens Of the bay,
river and esteros.
"A material Improvement in the sanitary
condition of the city may be expected when
the installation of the electric street car
system now under construction is COM
pleted," said Prof. Worcester There Is
great congestion Of population in many
parts of the city, especially in those dis
tricts inha bted by the working class This
is largely due to the necessity of living near
ones place Of employment felt at present
by every person who Is not possessed of
sufficient means to afford a horse and We
hicle, or a considerable daily expenditure
for carriage hire. 1t would involve great
hardship were we to thin out the overpopu-
lated districts at present and compel a con-
siderable number of their Inhabitants to
find homes at q distance from their places
Of employment. When the street car sys-
tenn is in operation the work of gradually
removing the more unsantary habitat tons
from overcrowded districts should be I'M
dertakcn, and reasonable requirements as
to amount OF space left between buildings
should be insisted upon"