( 6 ) 
the Medical Department. 
The numerous outbreaks of malaria in Native troops after a hike 
in a country where there are no mosquitoes# makes it reasonable to 
assume that many of these Natives harbor the germ which is harmless 
until resistance is reduced by fatigue or exhaustion. If so# thev are 
a source of danger, really contagious cases. 
23.—DENGUE has been epidemic. It has strongly resembled influ¬ 
enza# except that the pains are in the joints and back and not in the 
bones. The fever lasts three of four days and convalescence is slow 
and patient very weak unless confined to bed during the attack. 
Cholera has also been epidemic and every means has been taken 
to induce natives to boil water# eat freshly cooked foods and vege¬ 
tables# and clean up their houses and grounds. In no place where Medi¬ 
cal officers could reach in advance of cholera has it ever got a 
footing# but it was invariably very bad if it entered a town before 
we could organize: where it did get a footing a medical officer later 
took charge and it was always stamped out. . (see 49) 
Almost every case among soldiers has been due to a violation 
of_the orders issued for their guidance, not a mere accident but a wil- 
tul eating and drinking in Native shacks. So far then our experience 
shows that the disease, like typhoid is very easy to avoid. Measles 
and chicken pox are reported from San Isidro. N.E.,P.I. 
34.-All Hospitals have hand-grenades, water buckets and barrels. 
There have been no losses. When a fire starts it is apt to burn most 
of a town. 
34.—The fatigue duty is the usual garrison work, and should be 
avoided from 11 to 4, if possible. 
26.-The food is usually well cooked, of good quality and as well 
served as field conditions will permit. It should be liberal to count¬ 
eract the exhaustions of the climate and every tendency to liberalize 
it favored. Reduction of the ration is unscientific and criminal.. 
The recent reduction of the Native ration was a disaster, for these 
poor people cannot do work without fuel any more than a steamship. 
When on native diet they cannot possibly keep up with a white man, 
and when on regular rations they do well. In every dietary question 
the Commissary Department should keep in mind the well nigh evident 
fact that natives of all tropical countries are in a condition of 
chronic .nitrogen star vation , with a hunger for nitrogenous foods which 
are unattainable. The Board of Officers which awarded a prize to the 
essay on the Best Ration for the Tropics, which advocated a reduction 
of nitrogen, committed an awful scientific blunder. The hunger for 
sugar and alcohol, so often noted is now known to be a cry of starved 
nerves for stimulation. The same fault is also the basis for the in¬ 
tense hunger for fats so common among tropical natives. The rule then 
is to keep up a good supply of meats, bread and legum Qc * 
insufficiency of rations have been reported at Pantabangan 
N.E., no fresh meat or vegetables for long periods. It was repor 
to be possible to supply these stations but it was not done. Dried 
fruit issued too often, cloys and should be varied with canned or 
fresh fruit. Rolled oats has been also recommended. 
27.-FURNITURE is best of native wood, for the American woods seam 
to deteriorate rapidly and warp in damp season. 
28.4 There have been very few attempts at gardens, and these 
been mostly failures from unknown causes, probably unsuitableness 
American seeds to the soil and climate. 
30.-see preceding paragraph. 
