A STUDY OF THE SYSTOLIC BLOOD-PRESSURE AND THE 



PULSE RATE OF HEALTHY ADULT MALES 



IN THE PHILIPPINES. 



BASED ON 6,847 BLOOD-PEESSUEE EEADINGS ON 1,489 INDIVIDUALS, AND 

 AN EQUAL NUMBEE OF PULSE COUNTS ON THE SAME PEESONS.' 



By Weston P. Chambeelain.^ 

 {From the United States Army Board for the Study of Tropical Diseases.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the period from January 1, 1909 to September 30, 1911 the 

 Board for the Study of Tropical Diseases carried out in the Philip- 

 pines two extensive series of observations, one to determine whether 

 Americans of the blond type suffered more than the brunettes from the 

 deleterious influences attributed to the tropical climate(l) and the other 

 to discover whether the wearing of orange-red underclothing, which 

 obstructs the passage of the actinic rays of the solar spectrum, was of 

 any benefit to white soldiers serving in the Archipelago. (2) The com- 

 piling and analyzing of the data was done by the Board. A part of the 

 laboratory examinations were made by the Board, but the bulk of the 

 observations were carried out by 24 medical officers of the Army who 

 were specially detailed for the purpose and who worked under the super- 

 vision of the Board. As a result of these two series of observations an 

 immense amount of data was collected, which was of value not only in 

 settling the points for which the work was instituted, but also as affording 

 a basis for the study of special features of the physiological activity of the 

 Caucasian when living in the Philippines. 



The present report will deal with the subject of blood-pressure in the 

 Tropics and with the associated pulse rate. During the above mentioned 

 observations 6,128 blood-pressure readings and an equal number of syn- 



* Published with permission of the Chief Surgeon, Philippines Division. 



" Weston P. Chamberlain, major, Medical Corps, United States Army, president 

 of the United States Army Board for the Study of Tropical Diseases as they 

 Exist in the Philippine Islands. 



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