AQ in Manchester and some itinerant teaching in the U S, he had 

 concluded fourteen years as professor of general chemistry in 

 Michigan before starting to Manila. Wherry's letter continued: 



There is a 6 J4 million dollar appropriation for the labora- 

 tories which are to be a central institution where scientific 

 work for the group of islands will be done. The new building 

 will be completed within the year. . . . Great Scientists from 

 the U S will be invited to come and investigate any old thing 

 they want . . . How would you like me to get you a bolt of 

 Chinese silk mucho fina? ... I had a nice letter from Miss 

 Nast yesterday, so am feeling fine to-day. . . . Nearly every- 

 one working in this lab gets something — mostly amoebic 

 dysentery. I expect to have beri-beri . . . 



Another day he wrote: 



. . . Woolley expects to study rinderpest. I am going to 

 study beri-beri partly because Hektoen suggested it and partly 

 because there is an excellent opportunity here, for it is practi- 

 cally endemic in Bilibid Prison and epidemic in Manila during 

 certain seasons of the year.Though when I look at the bibliog- 

 raphy and see what an immense amount of work has been done 

 on it and by good men, too, it nearly paralyzes me. 



February 21, 1903, he made this report: 



We have plenty to do now, for plague is starting up. There 

 were six fatal cases during the week. I had three plague autop- 

 sies in one day on primary bubonic followed by septicemia. 

 The board of health has been lax but the laboratory is stirring 

 them up, for we get plague rats among those caught and sent 

 in. It is a horrible disease, just like anthrax. I will send you some 

 slides, for they will interest you. 



On March 22, 1903, in a letter headed "Hot Season," he 

 added: 



The climate here is productive of the most delightfully lazy 

 feelings. If we weren't so busy, I would be a victim of Fili- 

 pinitis. But with plague and cholera on the rise, we have plenty 

 to do. . . . Cholera is really a most frightful disease. I am 

 trying to do a little work on it but cannot accomplish much, 

 for we have not been relieved of our routine. I can get in some 

 time on Saturdays and Sundays though. It took me almost 



