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  (Tagdlog,  Manungal).  From
time  to  time  this  disease  reappears.  The  returns  given  in  the  Offictai
GazeHe  of  March  2, 1904,  Vol.  II.,  No.  9,  show  the  average  monthly
mortality  due  to  Cholera^  in  the  20J  months  between  March  20, 1902,
and  December  1,  1908,  to  be  5,860.  Annually,  many  natives  suffer
fipom  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  firat  symptom  of  Wet  Beri-Beri  is  a  swelling
of  the  l^s,  like  dropsy ;  that  of  Ihy  Beri-Beri  is  a  wasting  away  of
the  limbs.  SmaMpox  makes  great  ravages,  and  Measles  is  a  common
complaint.  Lung  and  Bronchial  affections  are  very  rare.  The  most
fearftil  disease  in  the  Colony  is  Leprosy}  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  {;tnde  Lepers),  but  no  practical
measiU'es  were  ever  adopted  by  the  Spaniards  to  eradicate  this  disease.
