Chapter xxx

.

The intellectual and spiritual life, as we have it in Europe, does not exist in the Philippines. If ever a Filipino studied any subject, purely for the love of study, without the hope of material or social advantage being derived therefrom, he would be a _rara avis_.

The _Disease_ most prevalent among the Filipinos is fever--especially in the spring: and although, in general, they may be considered a robust, enduring race, they are less capable than the European of withstanding acute disease. I should say that quite 50 per cent. of the native population are affected by cutaneous disease, said to be caused by eating fish daily, and especially shell-fish. It is locally known as _Sarnas_: natives say that monkey flesh cures it.

In 1882 _Cholera morbus_ in epidemic form ravaged the native population, carrying off thousands of victims, the exact number of which has never been published. The preventive recommended by the priests on this occasion, viz., prayer to Saint Roque, proved quite ineffectual to stay the plague. A better remedy, found in the country, is an infusion of _Niota tetrapetala_ (Tagalog, _Manungal_). From time to time this disease reappears. The returns given in the _Official Gazette_ of March 2, 1904, Vol. II., No. 9, show the average monthly mortality due to _Cholera_, in the 20-1/3 months between March 20, 1902, and December 1, 1903, to be 5,360. Annually, many natives suffer from what is called _Colerin_--a mild form of _Cholera_, but not epidemic. In the spring, deaths always occur from acute indigestion, due to eating too plentifully of new rice. Many who have recovered from _Cholera_ become victims to a disease known as _Beri-Beri_, said to be caused by the rice and fish diet. The first symptom of _Wet Beri-Beri_ is a swelling of the legs, like dropsy; that of _Dry Beri-Beri_ is a wasting away of the limbs. _Smallpox_ makes great ravages, and _Measles_ is a common complaint. _Lung_ and _Bronchial_ affections are very rare. The most fearful disease in the Colony is _Leprosy_. [87] To my knowledge it is prevalent in the Province of Bulacan (Luzon Is.), and in the islands of Cebu and Negros. There is an asylum for lepers near Manila and at Mabolo, just outside the City of Cebu (_vide_ Lepers), but no practical measures were ever adopted by the Spaniards to eradicate this disease. The Spanish authorities were always too indifferent about the propagation of leprosy to establish a home on one island for all male lepers and another home, on another island, for female lepers--the only effectual way to extirpate this awful malady. In Baliuag (Bulacan), leper families, personally known to me, were allowed to mix with the general public. In Cebu and Negros Islands they were permitted to roam about on the highroads and beg.

The Insular Government has taken up the question of the Lepers, and in 1904 a tract of land was purchased in the Island of Culion (Calamianes group) to provide for their hygienic isolation. According to the _Official Gazette_ of March 2, 1904, Vol. II., No. 9, the total number of lepers, of whom the Insular Government had obtained cognizance, up to December 31, 1903, was 3,343. Besides these there would naturally be an unknown number who had escaped recognition.

There is apparently little _Insanity_ in the Islands. From the Report of the Commissioner of Public Health for February, 1904, it would appear that there were only about 1,415 insane persons in a population of over seven-and-a-half millions.

Since the American advent (1898) the _Death-rate_ is believed to have notably decreased. The Report of the Commissioner of Public Health for 1904 states the death-rate per thousand in Manila to have been as follows, viz.:--Natives 53.72; Europeans other than Spaniards 16.11; Spaniards 15.42; and Americans 9.34. The Commissioner remarks that "over 50 per cent. of the children born in the city of Manila never live to see the first anniversary of their birthday." The Board of Health is very active in the sanitation of Manila. Inspectors make frequent domiciliary visits. The extermination of rats in the month of December, 1903, amounted to 24,638. House-refuse bins are put into the streets at night, and an inspector goes round with a lamp about midnight to examine them. Dead animals, market-rubbish, house-refuse, rotten hemp, sweepings, etc., are all cremated at Palomar, Santa Cruz, and Paco, and in July, 1904, this enterprising department started the extermination of mosquitoes! In the suburbs of Manila there are now twelve cemeteries and one crematorium.

##