70 SMITH. 



avoided had they only known. Again, others, who have been fore- 

 warned, have discounted the advice given them and have come to 

 a realization of their error after much loss of time and money. 

 Even at this late day few people realize the economic importance 

 of hygiene in this part of the tropical world. 



In just a few words we shall summarize the most salient facts 

 about the country, climate and the people of the Philippines as a 

 setting for the suggestions to follow. 



2. THE COUNTRY OF THE PHILIPPINES. 



The Philippine Archipelago lies some 800 K.M. off the east coast 

 of Asia, Manila the capital being 1.100 K.M. south east of Hongkong. 

 It comprises over 3.000 islands of which the largest, Luzon, has 

 an area of 1 22.346 Sq. Km. 



The islands are made up largely of Tertiary formations with 

 some others of doubtful age. Volcanics and coral limestone are 

 widely distributed, though there are considerable areas underlain 

 by sedimentaries such as sandstone, shales and conglomerates. Granitic 

 rocks and schists are also well developed in certain parts. 



The highest mountain is Apo in Mindanao, 2929 m. The islands 

 in general are mountainous and well forested, the dominant trees 

 belonging largely to the Dipterocarp family though many hundreds 

 of sq. Km. are merely grass-covered. There are over 2500 species 

 of trees known in the archipelago. 



Situated as it is on the very edge of the great Asiatic continental 

 horst and only 84.8 Km. west of the greatest known deep of all 

 the oceans, the Philippine terrain is not stable and earthquakes, 

 only rarely destructive, are fairly common. 



3. THE CLIMATE OF THE PHILIPPINES. 



For fuller treatment of this subject the reader is referred to the 

 work J ) of Rev. Jose Coronas S. J. 



Philippine climate is tropical and insular. The climate is threefold 

 in type. 



The first type in the western part of the Archipelago, with two 

 pronounced seasons; dry in winter and spring and wet in summer 

 and fall. 



1) The Climate and Weather of the Philippines 19031918. Phil. Census 

 A.D. 1918. Manila (1920). 



