EDITORIAL. 67 



and the resolution was made in order to improve the conditions- in regard 

 to animal parasites and amwbie. Animal parasites have given way to 

 cholera and in consultation with Doctor Nichols and others, another 

 resolution has been prepared, which is presented without comment to the 

 society. 



Whereas it would appear that the greatest single sanitary need of the Philippine 

 Islands is the proper disposal of human excreta ; and 



Whereas the proper disposal of human excreta is the one measure preeminently 

 demanded for the control and suppression of certain prevailing diseases, notably 

 cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever, and infections with intestinal worms, without 

 which, provision of other sanitary measures must prove ineffectual; and 



^^''hereas the problem of providing satisfactory, efficient and sanitaiy means 

 of disposing of human excreta throughout these Islands is so large and complex 

 as to require special and perhaps experimental study by competent men who can 

 give undivided attention to its solution : Therefore be it 



Resolved^ That the Manila Medical Society does petition the Government of 

 the Philippine Islands, through the honorable the Secretary of the Interior, that 

 a commission of five properly qualified persons be appointed to investigate and 

 decide upon the best method or methods for disposing of human excreta that 

 can be established in these Islands, and that such appropriation be made and 

 such means provided for the establishment of the working system for the disposal 

 of human excreta as from the report of this commission may appear practical and 

 expedient. 



It is further recommended that the Director of Science and the Director of 

 Health be ex officio members of this commission. 



Dr. H. J. Nichols, United States Army, member of the Board for the 

 study of Tropical Diseases as they exist in the Philippines : I second the 

 motion. At the amnial meeting of the Philippine Islands Medical As- 

 sociation, there Avas considerable discussion on this matter, and Sir Allan 

 Perry from Ceylon said that wc were trying to do too much, that we 

 ought to be satisfied as other people are and that such investigations are 

 not practicable. AA'ell, we have not tried it for one thing, and for another, 

 the United States sanitary and medical service accomplished results in 

 Panama and Porto Eico which on their face appeared to be imprac- 

 ticable and impossible. I am very strongly in favor at least of this 

 resolution being tried. I believe it is the most important measure to 

 be taken up really to get at the root of all these diseases with which the 

 Filipinos arc afflicted. The digging of artesian wells and similar measures 

 are proper, but they do not strike at tbe bottom of the trouble. If we 

 could dispose of the faeces of the sick it would prevent other people from 

 becoming infected, and until we do this it will require a system of educa- 

 tion which is certainly one or two generations ahead. This measure 

 could be put into effect Avithout an}- consciousness on the part of the 

 Filipinos, that is. Avithout conscious eifort. It is practicable to be put 

 in operation and would be a daily routine. I, therefore, second this 

 measure and hope it will be passed. 



On being put to the vote tlie motion was mianimously adopted. 



