﻿IX. B, 3 Calderon: Medical Geography of the Philippines 203 



BERIBERI 



Beriberi, in round numbers, causes approximately 5,000 deaths 

 per annum. There is much evidence available to show that 

 beriberi in mothers affects the nutritive value of their milk, and 

 this is believed to be one of the causes for taon among children. 

 That the mother's milk is closely associated virith the high infant 

 mortality in the Philippines is further borne out by the fact that 

 three times as many breast-fed infants die as bottle-fed infants, 

 which is directly contrary to the experience in Europe and 

 America. If it is admitted that taon in the child is caused by beri- 

 beri in the mother, this one disease alone is responsible for at 

 least 25,000 deaths per annum. There is now much experimental 

 and practical evidence that the continued consumption of white 

 rice as a staple article of diet is responsible for beriberi. In 

 Government institutions in the Philippines, during the time 

 that white rice was used as a staple article of diet, there 

 were on an average more than 600 deaths per annum ; whereas, 

 since unpolished rice has been used, there have been no deaths 

 from beriberi in those institutions. Such evidence is further 

 strengthened by the fact that at Culion, for instance, after the 

 use of polished rice was again begun, beriberi appeared soon 

 afterward and disappeared again when unpolished rice was sub- 

 stituted for it. In Cebu Island, where corn is the staple article 

 of diet, there is practically no beriberi and taon is exceedingly 

 rare. In Manila, on the other hand, where the use of polished 

 rice is very common, the highest mortality from beriberi is found. 

 Here, then, is a disease, a method of avoiding which is ready for 

 trial, and only the cooperation of the medical profession is 

 needed in order to bring the matter to a satisfactory test. 



MALARIAL FEVER 



Malarial fever is another disease which the statistics show 

 to be responsible for at least 25,000 deaths per annum. That 

 malaria is transmitted only by the bite of a mosquito that has 

 previously bitten a person suffering with malarial fever is now 

 universally admitted. Furthermore, it is well known that if 

 quinine be promptly administered an attack of malarial fever can 

 be avoided. Here, then, are two methods by which malaria in 

 the Philippines could be combated: First, by eliminating the 

 breeding places of mosquitoes ; and, secondly, by the prophylactic 

 use of quinine in communities in which malaria prevails and by 

 the prompt treatment of those who have been infected with this 

 disease. Geographicaly, malaria is most common in the follow- 



