The San Francisco call., 1906-12-15
TAFT EXPLAINS, BUT
MEN STAY DEAD

WASHINGTON, Dec. lin his an
nual report Secretary of War Taft
says regarding the death of prisoners
at Bilibid prison, Manila:
Although cholera appeared in Ma
Mia and elsewhere in the islands dur
ing the last year, the action of the
health authorities was SO prompt and
effective that it did not spread. l re-
gret however, to have to record q
most unfortunate incident in the ad-
ministration of cholera serum to some
ten of the inmates of Bilibid Prison.
Doctor Strong the head of the Bu-
reau of Laboratories, has made some
remarkable discoveries with reference
to cholera serum and has used it with
success on various occasions. In mis-
take, however to some ten inmates
of the penitentiary at Bilibid a bot
tie of the bubonfc plague serum was
cholera serum, with the result that
the persons to whom the serum was
administered died. A thorough exam
ination is now being made and the
take care of the families of the de-
ceased 1t is an occasion for great re-
gret and will doubtless insure greater.
precautions in the administration of
such dangerous agencies.
The report reproduces the following
-
Vaccination of Biubfd prisoners with
permissive authorization, executive or
der issued March 1, 1904, and to that
extent vaccination might be consid-
cred compulsory. No objection to vac
cination was made by any prisoner to
Doctor Strong. and no prisoner vac
DR.. Strong and no prisoner vac
were vaccinated under this authorize
tion.
Anti-clolera vaccination has been
made since 1903 with vaccine prepared
and Ferran principle. The laboratory
method was used in large majority
Many thousands were vaccinated
with anti-cholera vaccine since 1903
without bad results until November
16, on which date twenty-four pris-
oners were .vaccinated with another
cholera vaccine prepared after the
principle of Dr. Ferran. which requires
the of living cholera germs OF
this number sixteen were affected and
ately reported to Fiscal, who exam
ined into the case, taking the testi-
mony of all concerned.
In view of the fact that autopsies
not yet completed it will not be known
for few days whether blood poison
ing or plague was the cause of death.
1t is certain that the yaccinated pris-
oners did not die of cholera. II the
cause of death is plague. ii seems
clear that a scientific visitor AT the
laboratory who was examining plague
cultures inadvertently PLACED a tube
among the cholera cultures which were
about to be prepared and sent TO Bi-
hbid for incubation purposes.
poisoning was the cause of death, then
the vaccine must have been contain =
mated either in preparation or after
preparation and before USE
Tho Ianraccal ooo1ifioc
says Secretary Taft, in the islands
seems to have continued, especially
in respect to the raising and exporta-
ton of sugar and tobacco. The violent
and unusual storm of cyclonic char
acter which visited the islands in the
latter part of 1905 destroyed about
s4,000,000 in value of the crop of hemp.
In the matter of exports, however. this
loss was made up by an increase in
the production and expectation of
cocoanuts, so that on the whole the
exports of the islands fell off only
about half a million of dollars
The imports of the islands were re-
duced below the preceding year some
s4,0o0,000, making the balance OF trade
in favor Of the islands-that is, the
excess of exports over imports, about
s6,000,000. A large part of the redue-
tion in imports was due to the re-
duction in the Importation of rice. This,
on the whole, is good sign, for the
reason that it indicates that the Philip
pines are raising their own rice and
extending their agriculture, which has
for a number of years been retarded
by the death of cattle from rinderpest.
The islands are slowly recovering from
this blow.
The Secretary concurs with the
Philippine commission and strongly
recommends to Congress the passage of
an act authorizing the Philippine Gov
ernment to guarantee to q private
agricultural bank a dividend of per
cent on $4,000, 900.