278 The Philippine Journal of Science 



is fitted into the canal, but as no dental cement is used, the tooth 

 could be removed at will. 



PREVENTION OF DISEASES 



The transmission of communicable diseases is favored by 

 conditions similar to those found in the Christian provinces, such 

 as ignorance of the people, unhygienic surroundings, poor nutri- 

 tion, eating with the fingers, and frequency of travel; however, 

 there are two customs peculiar to the Mohammedan population 

 of Cotabato that add to the means of transmission, such as the 

 habit of washing the genitals after an act of nature and the 

 ceremonies in connection with the dead. 



The habit of washing the genitals after an act of nature be- 

 ing sort of a religious mandate, all Moros live on the bank of 

 rivers and streams, as they do not dig wells, and they must 

 defecate or urinate in the water in order to wash properly. 



When a Moro dies, all the panditas in the neighborhood and 

 from great distances, if the dead is important, gather around, 

 although uninvited, to offer prayers and get their fees. The 

 corpse is washed very thoroughly by a pandita called manustican, 

 special attention being paid to the natural orifices, the abdomen 

 being massaged to press out the remnants of urine and faeces; 

 if faeces do not come out, a finger is introduced into the anus. 

 Then the corpse is wrapped in a white cloth and held in the arms 

 of two or four panditas, mapasalay, while the highest pandita 

 present administers the nine kinds of baths prescribed by the 

 Koran. 



The Maguindanaos know that chicken pox and measles are 

 contagious, but do not take any means to prevent their spread. 

 In cases of severe epidemics of smallpox some people escape 

 to the forests and hills, but as a general rule they take no 

 precautions. 



There is no vaccination performed by the Maguindanaos com- 

 parable to vaccinations from pus of true smallpox as performed 

 by Moros in Jolo. 



Cases of leprosy are isolated, and the patients are placed in 

 houses away from the community. 



In some instances white flags are placed in the houses to 

 prevent the entrance of epidemics, as noted during the cholera 

 of 1915. 



