188 EDITORIAL,. 



then built a distilling plant which has no equal in these Islands. Each 

 tank before filling is sterilized, the water drawn off into galvanized cans 

 with tightly Jilting covers the next day, the latter being washed with 

 live steam each time they are filled. During the last three years the 

 records of this station show the percentage of infection of men with 

 amcebic dysentery to be from 0.8 per cent to 1.5 per cent. The first 

 quarter after distilled water was used the percentage was 5.8, and 4.8 per 

 cent for the next quarter. 



I also desire to point out that the percentage of infection with amoebae 

 at Fort McKinley among the troops using distilled water was formerly 

 70 per cent. At Canacao, the water became contaminated by amoebae 

 and attempts were made to remove the cause, but these were finally 

 abandoned because the mains would immediately be reinfected. It is 

 my belief that there are many other ways in which amcebic infection can 

 be acquired in addition to that by means of drinking water. There are 

 many people on this station who use ordinary water, and apparently these 

 are no more infected than those who only use distilled water. 



DISCUSSION ON THE PAPER BY DR. T. KITAJIMA. 



Mr. Charles S. Banks, Bureau of Science: I would like to say for 

 the information of those present that we have nine species of this genus 

 in the Philippines, the commonest (Trimesurus hypnale D. & B.), a green 

 snake with yellow bell}', is called "alimurain-alupon" by the natives. 



Dr. Harry T. Marshall, Bureau of Science: I wish to congratulate 

 Professor Kitajima upon his interesting paper. He has been able to 

 establish the fact that the habu venom acts according to the same general 

 laws that govern in the cases of the cobra venom, rattle-snake venom and 

 other animal poisons. The action of his antiserums is promising, and 

 they will be beneficial in proportion to his success in securing their general 

 employment. 



