now, the theory was advanced that upheaval of the soil caused an increase of those diseases. Some sanitarians believed even that the soil upheaval originated yellow fever. "In those days there was no such thing as scientific quarantine and no system of maritime sanitation worthy of the name. Outside sources of infection could not be excluded and the germ theory of yellow fever was not yet, formulated as we understand it to-day. "With the advent of maritime sanitation and scientific quarantine the theory of the telluric origin of yellow fever lost ground; and a long continuance of freedom from yellow fever during a period marked by extensive upheaval of earth in summer destroyed the last vestige of belief that the disease was indigenous to our soil.” In view of what is now known of the habitat and viability of disease germs in filthy soil and the recorded facts of the frequent rise of yellow fever and malarial fever, and recently of plague consequent upon the upturning of such soil, the above quotation is, to say the least, remarkable. That the case of yellow fever above referred to arose from domiciliary germs ensconced in material that was not frozen last winter, and not from the freshly upturned soil, is highly probable. But that does not in the least detract from the more widespread danger in the progress of the excavation work—if indeed the work is still in progress. The SANITARIAN sincerely hopes it is not: it is dangerous for New Orleans during summer weather. That the sewerage of New Orleans has been determined upon by the taxpayers, and now only awaits legislative formalization of the procedure and the season for proceeding with the work, is the most important undertaking in the history of the city. HEALTH IN HAVANA. Havana, June 10.-The army health report for the City of Havana is very gratifying to General Ludlow. Of the 2,000 men or more, less than 2 per cent. is sick. This is a better average than is usual anywhere in the United States. Among the troops there are a very few cases of sickness, these being mainly persons who are suffering from typhoid fever, of which there are four cases. The ordinary health of the city remains good. One supposed case of yellow fever is reported on board the steamer Ardan Mohr, from Carthagena. Some of the army officers say the patient is suffering from yellow fever, but Dr. V. T. Brunner, chief quarantine officer, declares that he is not. The ship has been quarantined and the man removed to the hospital. He was taken sick before the steamer arrived at Havana. In future vessels arriving from Carthagena will be obliged to undergo a temporary quarantine. Jose Maria Gomez, Governor of Santa Clara, telegraphs to Senor Domingo Menez Capote, secretary of government in General Brooke's advisory cabinet, that the rural guard at Yaguargay has captured three Spanish guerillas, Sanilla Sanchez, Leon Perera and Juan Prado, who have terrorized the inhabitants of that vicinity of late. Advices from Sagua say that Captain Rafferty is paying the soldiers amid great enthusiasm. Many of the troops are anxious to receive the money, as they are suffering for lack of implements to begin the cultivation of the land and earn sufficient money to begin purchasing necessities. The total number of arms delivered up in Matanzas comprises 17 rifles, 5 carbines and I Remington. At 3 P. M. the temperature in Havana was 80 degrees Fahrenheit. SOME DISTRESSED CUBANS.-A Havana correspondent of the New Orleans "Times-Democrat" makes light of a matter which he says has been seriously taken up by the people there, the complaint of the undertakers, who at a meeting of their association some days ago passed resolutions condemning the American intervention, as it almost annihilated their business, as the deaths have decreased. No doubt the doctors and druggists will complain next that people don't get sick. HEALTH OF MANILA. "I wish to refute the statements generally circulated in regard to the health and climate of the Philippine Islands. Being within the Tropics, they of course lack the invigorating effects of frost, and the temperature averages high-at Manila, about 78.3 deg. F.; but extremes are not wide apart, and during the last year I heard of no temperature below 57 deg. F. in the islands, and none below the sixties in Manila. Mercury in the shade rarely rises above 85 deg., nor above 95 deg. in the sun. "Being on the coast of a bay so large as to be almost an inland sea, and having eight miles to the east a lake with 100 miles of shore, whose waters seek the bay through the large and rapid now, the theory was advanced that upheaval of the soil caused an increase of those diseases. Some sanitarians believed even that the soil upheaval originated yellow fever. "In those days there was no such thing as scientific quarantine and no system of maritime sanitation worthy of the name. Outside sources of infection could not be excluded and the germ theory of yellow fever was not yet, formulated as we understand it to-day. "With the advent of maritime sanitation and scientific quarantine the theory of the telluric origin of yellow fever lost ground; and a long continuance of freedom from yellow fever during a period marked by extensive upheaval of earth in summer destroyed the last vestige of belief that the disease was indigenous to our soil." In view of what is now known of the habitat and viability of disease germs in filthy soil and the recorded facts of the frequent rise of yellow fever and malarial fever, and recently of plague consequent upon the upturning of such soil, the above quotation is, to say the least, remarkable. That the case of yellow fever above referred to arose from domiciliary germs ensconced in material that was not frozen last winter, and not from the freshly upturned soil, is highly probable. But that does not in the least detract from the more widespread danger in the progress of the excavation work-if indeed the work is still in progress. The SANITARIAN sincerely hopes it is not: it is dangerous for New Orleans during summer weather. That the sewerage of New Orleans has been determined upon by the taxpayers, and now only awaits legislative formalization of the procedure and the season for proceeding with the work, is the most important undertaking in the history of the city. HEALTH IN HAVANA. Havana, June 10.-The army health report for the City of Havana is very gratifying to General Ludlow. Of the 2,000 men or more, less than 2 per cent. is sick. This is a better average than is usual anywhere in the United States. Among the troops there are a very few cases of sickness, these being mainly persons who are suffering from typhoid fever, of which there are four cases. The ordinary health of the city remains good. One supposed case of yellow fever is reported on board the steamer Ardan Mohr, from Carthagena. Some of the army officers say the patient is suffering from yellow fever, but Dr. V. T. Brunner, chief quarantine officer, declares that he is not. The ship has been quarantined and the man removed to the hospital. He was taken sick before the steamer arrived at Havana. In future vessels arriving from Carthagena will be obliged to undergo a temporary quarantine. Jose Maria Gomez, Governor of Santa Clara, telegraphs to Senor Domingo Menez Capote, secretary of government in General Brooke's advisory cabinet, that the rural guard at Yaguargay has captured three Spanish guerillas, Sanilla Sanchez, Leon Perera and Juan Prado, who have terrorized the inhabitants of that vicinity of late. Advices from Sagua say that Captain Rafferty is paying the soldiers amid great enthusiasm. Many of the troops are anxious to receive the money, as they are suffering for lack of implements to begin the cultivation of the land and earn sufficient money to begin purchasing necessities. The total number of arms delivered up in Matanzas comprises. 17 rifles, 5 carbines and I Remington. At 3 P. M. the temperature in Havana was 80 degrees Falirenheit. SOME DISTRESSED CUBANS.-A Havana correspondent of the New Orleans "Times-Democrat" makes light of a matter which he says has been seriously taken up by the people there, the complaint of the undertakers, who at a meeting of their association some days ago passed resolutions condemning the American intervention, as it almost annihilated their business, as the deaths have decreased. No doubt the doctors and druggists will complain next that people don't get sick. HEALTH OF MANILA. "I wish to refute the statements generally circulated in regard to the health and climate of the Philippine Islands. Being within the Tropics, they of course lack the invigorating effects of frost, and the temperature averages high-at Manila, about 78.3 deg. F.: but extremes are not wide apart, and during the last year I heard of no temperature below 57 deg. F. in the islands, and none below the sixties in Manila. Mercury in the shade rarely rises above 85 deg., nor above 95 deg. in the sun. "Being on the coast of a bay so large as to be almost an inland sea, and having eight miles to the east a lake with 100 miles of shore, whose waters seek the bay through the large and rapid Pasig, the city of Manila has fresh air constantly, as well as sea breezes. "The sewers of Manila are not good and can never be first class, because of its low level; but the rainfall here is above 10 feet per annum and quite evenly distributed, so that the streets are rain swept and the sewers well flushed almost every day. There is also an advantage in hot, wet weather, which hastens the decay of vegetable or animal matter, this soon rotting and being washed away. "The city water supply is abundant. The water is carried in large iron pipes about seven miles from springs, and is exceptionally pure and agreeable to taste. I use it every day as a beverage, and have never experienced ill effects therefrom. I have not been sick a minute since I left the United States in 1897. "In filthy quarters, smallpox may be found almost any day; but few deaths result, and the sanitary measures of the present government have been of benefit. The death rate is small, and it is only necessary to live properly to be entirely healthy." MANILA, February 24, 1899. O. F. WILLIAMS, Consul. Andre Bellesort's "A WEEK IN THE PHILIPPINES," which "The Living Age" has translated from the "Revue des Deux Mondes,' is the more interesting because this sprightly Frenchman saw the islands in November, 1897, before they had assumed any interest to Americans, but while the Filipino insurrection against Spain was in progress. He writes of them graphically and with a Frenchman's characteristic lightness. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AT MANILA. Surgeon-General Sternberg made public on May 13th a report by Major Henry Lippincott, Chief Surgeon at Manila, of the operations of the Medical Department in the Philippines, from Feb. 4th to March 31st. With the former date began a prolonged series of engagements with the Filipinos, and from that time to March. 31st, 182 United States soldiers were killed or died from wounds received in action. The number of wounded during this period not included in this number was 847. It is noted that "the effect of the firing was marvellous on the sick," many men who were hardly considered well enough for duty, leaving the hospital for the firing line. The medical staff were prepared for all emergencies. The first-aid packages proved of the greatest possible value. "Litters, pouches and medical and surgical chests were in readi |