GENERAL CONDITIONS AFFECTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND 

 DISEASES PREVALENT IN THE BATANES ISLANDS, P. I.^ 



By David G. Willets 

 {From the Biological Laboratory, Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



The following report is based upon observations made in the 

 Batanes Islands, chiefly in the town of Santo Domingo de Basco, 

 Batan Island, from April 2 to May 7 inclusive, 1912. Much of 

 my information was received from the padres, of whom there 

 are seven in the province, and from the provincial cirujano 

 administrante.'^ 



The Batanes are located about 240 kilometers north of the 

 Island of Luzon in the typhoon belt, and scarcely a year passes 

 without considerable damage being done to homes and live stock 

 for this reason. Several very strong currents about the islands 

 render communication between the various members of the 

 group not infrequently extremely dangerous and at times im- 

 possible. Lives are lost almost yearly in these currents. 



The population is approximately 8,000, distributed as follows : 

 Batan Island, 5,200; Sabtang Island, 1,300; and Itbayat Island, 

 1,500. It is said that at one time the total was about 20,000, 

 but that emigration to various parts of Luzon is responsible for 

 the great reduction. 



The occupation of the inhabitants is cattle raising; a few de- 

 vote their time to fishing. Cattle raising is conducted on a small 

 scale, about 1,000 head being sent to the Manila market 

 annually. The average price paid the natives for their cattle is 

 about 25 pesos per head. I am informed that the cattle are 

 paid for frequently with cloth, rope, rice, etc., which are sold 



^ Read before the Manila Medical Society at its June, 1912, meeting. 



' A cirujano admiyiistrante is a person who has studied medicine in the 

 Santo Tomas University of the city of Manila for a period of not less 

 than two years. He may be registered to practice medicine in remote 

 towns of a province where no civilian doctor of medicine or licenciate of 

 medicine is available. Upon passing a satisfactory examination before 

 the district health officer for the province in which he desires to practice, 

 he pays to its provincial treasurer a fee of 10 pesos for a certificate of 

 registration which shall thereupon be issued to him by the district health 

 officer. 



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