Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-01-03
paper, magazine and penny-a-liner in the

NNNN-NN~N~~
spent on the malarial crusade in the
sparsely settled strip occupied by the Canal
Zone with the comparative pittance dis
bursed on the complicated and colossal
sanitary problems of the Philippine Islands.
a territory as large as Great Britain, with
population as great as Holland, Belgium
and Switzerland combined, It will be seen
that the sanitary successes in the Philip
pines outweigh by far those of the Panama
Canal. 1t will be remembered that the
Canal Zone only contains a population of
10000 with an area of $50 square miles,
while the Philippines have a population
of 100000 and an area of $4,000
square miles.
Besides the sanitary work in the Canal
Zone has been practically confined to the
suppression of malaria, and the well-beaten
paths of drainage. oiling and screening,
which are elementary in character when
compared to the constructive work of the
many complicated sanitary and economic
problems encountered in the Philippines.
Among the many vital questions with
which the Philippine board had to deal,
may be mentioned the epidemic of bubonic
plague in Manila in 1902, the public vac
cination of over 5000, 900 of natives, and
the control of widespread endemic of
smallpox, the segregation and COLOMBIA.
ton of over 1000 lepers on the island of
Culion, combating the great epidemic of
Asiatic cholera in 1902, which carried off
hundreds of thousands of the ignorant
natives. the control of tropical dysentery
and malaria, creation of health laws for
the practice of medicine, dentistry, phar-
macy and veterinary medicine, the 0rgani-
ton of provincial and municipal health
boards, besides the care Of the insane,
public sick and domestic animals Of the
archipelago which were suffering from surra
and rinderpest at the time.
The laws pertaining to medicine and
allied professions in the Philippine Islands
stand to-day as models of their kind. and
it was due to their speedy enactment that
the food of quacks and imposters were
barred from the islands and the ignorant
and poverty-stricken natives saved from
their merciless deception and Importantly.
The successful campaign against bubonic
plague in Manila in 1901. which involved
the destruction OF the rodents Of the city
through traps and rat bane was the first
practical demonstration in the history of
that disease that infected rat fleas served
as the host of the plague bacillus. A low
estimate of the rats destroyed during the
crusade places the number at 100000,
and the number examined microscopically
to detect the presence of infection among
them at 10000. Time iorbids the details
of house inspection. remOdeling, immuni-
cination, and other sanitary measures em-
ployed during the campaign. Within six
months after the commencement the disease
was eradicated from Manila, and with the
exception of few sporadic cases, attributed
to renfection from China, the city has re-
manned immune ever since.
Smallpox, which has been in evidence
in the Philippines for century or more.
was one Of the most serious sanitary prob
lens the Americans had to contend against.
during the days Of early occupation. The
disease was general throughout the archi-
pelago and was encountered in its most
infectious form on the streets of every
pueblo and even in Manila, the capital
itself Indeed, II became such a serious
menace to the health and lives Of our
troops, that many of them contracted the
disease and died. In justice to the pro-
lection afforded by vaccination against
smallpox it is only necessary to add that
those men who contracted the disease had
not been properly vaccinated.
Few of the natives were protected and
the disease was not only very fatal among
them, but regarded as inevitable through
their belief in fatalism, a creed common
to the Malay race.
The funerals were conducted publicly
, and the community litter coffin in common
use among them returned to its niche IL
the church without disinfection after con
veying the corpse to the Campo Santo.
In 1901 compulsory vaccination law
was enacted and put in operation, and
within few years over 100000 of the
natives were vaccinated Virus was pre-
pared by the Board of Health from caraboa
heifers. and the vaccinations made by in
structed natives. AS result Of this be-
nign law against that repulsive and fatal
disease thousands of valuable lives are
saved annually and smallpox reduced to
a negligible factor among the diseases Of
the Philippines, even less so than in many
sections of the United States.
Oriental leprosy, until recently. has Oc-
cupied conspicuous position among the
tropical diseases Of the Philippines. and
according to some historians came from
Japan. II is said that shipload Of lepers
was transferred to Manila early in the 18th
century by the Tokiueawa Shotgun Ieyasu. as
a gift to the friars, whom he heard were
fond Of caring for the sick. The afflicted
from this terrible plague were numerous
throughout the archipelago during the Span
ish domination. many Of whom occupied po-
sitions Of Importance as village presidents,
councillors. treasurers and nOtaries public.
No restrictions whatever was enjoined
against attendance at church, fiestas, cock
pits, bales and neighborly visitation.
Under the direction Of the Insular Board
Of Health, census was started in 1901
which disclosed the presence Of 1000 Of
these unfortunates In the archipelago. A
law was passed for their segregation on
the island Of Culion and funds appropriated
for the construction Of suitable hospitals
and quarters for their reception. The island
of Culion is about the size Of the Panama
strip. and contains sufficient suitable lands
for the cattle industry and agriculture Of
the colony. Hospitals. churches, schools
and places Of amusement have been pro-