A NOTE UPON STRANGLES IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



By William Hutchins Boynton 

 (From the Veterinary Division,"^ Bureau of Agriculture, Manila, P. I.) 



It is believed by some members of the medical profession that 

 streptococcic infection in man is of rare occurrence in the Phil- 

 ippine Islands, and, when present, is mild in effect. 



Musgrave ^ states that — 



The most logical explanation of the ease with which infection may be 

 avoided in both surgery and obstetrics is the rarity of virulent streptococci, 

 such organisms seldom being encountered in laboratory work, in the morgues 

 or in clinical work in the hospitals. 



Streptococcic septicemia, streptococcic cellulitis, erysipelas, scarlet fever, 

 and even streptococcic sore throat are extremely rare conditions in the 

 Philippine Islands, and streptococcic metritis and peritonitis following 

 child birth have not been encountered in autopsy work in Manila. 



Since the diseases prevailing among the domesticated animals 

 have not been worked out to any great extent here, it was not 

 positively known whether or not they suffer from such infection. 



The existence of strangles or distemper in horses appears to 

 have attracted very little attention in the Philippines, and, 

 although it has been recognized several times by veterinarians, 

 the diagnosis in such instances was based entirely upon clinical 

 symptoms, the causative agent not having been isolated and 

 identified. 



In searching for official reports on strangles in the Bureau of 

 Agriculture files, none could be found, but by personal inquiry 

 the writer has been able to gain some data as to its prevalence. 



During the months of February, March, and April, 1909, 

 shortly after the arrival of some old Army mares for breeding 

 purposes at the Alabang stock farm, there was an outbreak of 

 strangles which killed several colts, and ran a severe course in 

 many others. By the strenuous work of the men in charge, the 

 infection was cleaned up and has not appeared since. 



^Archibald R. Ward, chief. 



' Musgrave, W. E., Aseptic midwifery in Manila, Bull. Manila Med. Soc. 

 (1910), 2, 134. 



117494 6 237 



