Report of the governor general of the Philippine Islands. [1908]

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH. 105
These increases fully offset the erroneous diagnoses of the previous year,
so that we must look for other reasons to account for the decreased number
this year over that of the preceding. In view of the fact that 953 lepers were
removed to Culion last year, and 1,554 this year, it is certain that at least this
number of foci of infection was obliterated and the opportunity of contracting
leprosy was just that much reduced.
From the foregoing it is estimated that at least 300 less persons contracted
the disease. The advantage accruing therefrom will at once be apparent.
Not only have over 300 unfortunates been saved from this, the most hopeless
and loathsome of all human diseases, but just that many less charges have
been thrown upon the body politic, and 300 nonproducers have been held in the
producing class.
The actual work of collecting the lepers and caring for them after they are
collected still presents obstacles, many of which at times seem unsurmountable.
Regardless of what the opinion of people may be in the abstract, when it comes
to persons who will do actual work of transporting them to a seaport, providing their subsistence, aiding them aboard the steamers, making the necessary
medical examination, attending to their needs, experience has again and again
demonstrated that they are most difficult to find, and only persons with superior
courage can be induced to continue at the work. One of the greatest aids has
been the enactment of Act No. 1711, entitled "An act providing for the apprehension, detention, segregation, and treatment of lepers in the Philippine
Islands."
The practice of making a careful microscopical examination of each case has
been faithfully carried out, and, no doubt, is largely responsible for the confidence which is displayed in the diagnoses made by the medical officers of this
bureau. The attitude of the people of the islands as a whole toward segregation has been most gratifying. There is probably no place where family ties
are closer than in the Philippine Islands. In spite of the fact that it has frequently been necessary to separate husband from wife, mother from child,
brother from sister, friend from friend, they resign themselves to their fate, and
in addition frequently aid the representatives of the law whose duty it is to
carry out the segregation, when it is explained that such action is necessary
for the good of the many. With the exception of a few isolated instances, the
collection of the lepers has been carried on without any marked opposition or
disorder. The only serious accident is that which occurred at Malitbog, Leyte,
at which place two lepers became involved in a quarrel, as a result of which
one was fatally stabbed. However, quarrels of this kind are not confined to
lepers, and scarcely can be said to be connected with the question of segregation.
A frequent experience perhaps worthy of mention is the practice of many
municipalities presenting their insane, blind, cripples, and other incurables who
have become public charges, for transfer to Culion. These, of course, can not
be taken care of upon a leper island, but when they are not taken away, much
surprise is often shown.
The provinces of Mindoro, Masbate, Romblon, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Oriental
and Occidental Negros, Samar, and Leyte, have already been gone over two or
more times, and with the exception of a few isolated cases may be said to be
free of lepers. The provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Ambos Camarines, Albay, Batangas, Tayabas, Sorsogon, Benguet, Lepanto-Bontoc, and Ilocos Sur have been
gone over once, but are not yet regarded as being free of lepers, and they will
necessarily have to be searched over one or more times again.
The present Legislature has made ample appropriation for continuing the
work during the coming fiscal year along the lines mapped out by the Philippine Commission during the year just closed.
At the colony proper much work was accomplished, but it has not yet even
commenced to assume the appearance it is hoped it will have when the permanent improvements have been installed. The constant idea has been to
make the colony, at least temporarily, habitable in the shortest possible time
for the total number of lepers in the islands, so that the opportunities for contracting the disease may be reduced to the smallest limits, and the drain on
the resources of the islands decreased as soon as possible. This plan also has
the advantage of keeping the bureau informed as to approximately how many
lepers will have to be cared for at Culion for many years to come, and thereby
makes it possible to regulate the extent and character of the permanent improvements to be made.