SANITATION OF INTERISLAND VESSELS. For the purpose of maintaining a proper sanitary standard on all interisland vessels and to prevent the interisland spread of cholera, plague, or other quarantinable diseases, periodic inspections of all interisland vessels and local craft are made. All vessels engaged in interisland traffic were fumigated at least once every six months, and also vessels engaged in harbor work, such as launches, lighters, cascos, etc., were given periodical fumigations. Reports of the sanitary condition of all interisland vessels are made to the chief quarantine officer, and infractions of rules are punishable by fine under local port regulations, so that a general improvement in the sanitation of vessels is constantly noticeable. During the year 950 inspections of this class were made. One of the important pieces of work which has been carried out by the service during the past year was the cholera-carrier survey which was made in order to determine the probable presence of cholera carriers among the crews of the cascos, lighters, and other small craft used in loading and discharging vessels in Manila Bay, and aboard interisland steamers as well. During a time when cholera was not present in Manila, a survey was made in August and September, 1915, with the result that out of 1,117 persons examined, 1 cholera carrier was found, thus demonstrating that although no cholera had occurred in Manila for a month, yet there were cholera carriers to be found among the otherwise seemingly healthy population. The work was started on August 3 and concluded on September 17. The aim was to obtain 1,000 specimens from an average vessel population. The four hundred and seventyfirst specimen taken was postive for cholera vibrios, and occurred in the member of the crew of a casco. Specimens were taken as follows: On January 22 a second survey was started and is still being continued at the present time. Under this survey specimens were taken as follows: During the past year two cases of cholera were found on interisland vessels, after the latter had left Manila for interisland ports. Both ships were remanded to Mariveles quarantine station and given the usual treatment. All persons were held on board until examination of stool specimens showed the absence of cholera carriers. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS FOR MARINE LICENSES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT POSITIONS. During the past year aid was extended to Philippine government bureaus, the various United States services, and to consular services of other Governments in Manila. The character of same may be briefly outlined as follows: Bureau of agriculture, disinfection of vessels possibly infected with cattle diseases, and supervision of arriving cargoes and hides. Bureau of customs, physical examination of officers applying for licenses in the Philippine marine service, dispensary service for injured employees, medical inspection of and medical service for arriving and detained immigrants. Philippine health service, sanitary supervision of interisland craft, disinfection of leper-carrying vessels, furnishing of water transportation at the various ports of entry and assistance by service officers to various medical stations of the Philippine health service. Board of food and drug inspection, viséing meat inspection certificates of meat shipments and meat products from foreign countries. Nautical School, physical examination of applicants. Foreign consular service, furnishing of sanitary data and bills of health. Weather Bureau, displaying of typhoon signals. Lighthouse Establishment, maintenance of a light in the vicinity of the Mariveles quarantine station. Bureau of constabulary, medical treatment by service officers. Various other services were rendered to the Army, Navy, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and other insular bureaus. GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS. The change in the fiscal-year appropriations from a year ending June 30 to a year ending December 31 causes the financial transactions during the fiscal year under report to include funds of two annual appropriations. There was on hand July 1, 1915, a balance of $27,391.25 of funds appropriated for the calendar year 1915 in Act 2345. The legislature for the calendar year 1916 appropriated for the maintenance and operations of the bureau of quarantine service in the Philippine Islands the sum of $57,416.50, divided into salaries and wages $44,336.50, contingent expenses $12,180, fixed assets $900. This appropriation carried an increase of $2,131.50 over the appropriation for the preceding year to cover the general increase in the cost of supplies, or not quite 10 per cent, while the actual average increase has been over 30 per cent. Under the circumstances the appropriation was another reduction from the amounts appropriated in former years. There was expended for all purposes from general funds the sum of $51,727.75, and at the close of the Philippine fiscal year, December 31, 1916, the sum of $1,968.96 was reverted to the treasury. There are outstanding obligations June 30, 1916, amounting to $2,413.94. FUNDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS. There was carried forward from the fiscal year ending June 30, 1915, unexpended balances in three public works funds. There was a small balance, as will be seen by reference to the financial statement, in the fund for the construction of barracks at Mariveles, the erection of a disinfecting building at the Cebu quarantine station, and in the fund appropriated in Act 2494 for making routine repairs to buildings at the several quarantine stations. These funds totaled $1,510.21, and during the year the entire balance in each of the three funds was expended in completing the projects for which the money was appropriated, or a total expenditure of $1,510.21 for public works and permanent improvements. At the close of the fiscal year there are no funds of any kind on hand for public works and repairs. However, a small fund may be available for repairs to building from savings in the $3,400 appropriated in the general appropriation bill for "Repair and maintenance service." Financial statement, Philippine quarantine service. GENERAL CURRENT APPROPRIATION. Appropriation, Act 2431, balance on hand July 1, 1915. Total_. Expended during fiscal year ended June 30, 1916_. Total. $27, 391. 25 28, 708. 25 11. 15 56, 110. 65 51, 727. 75 1,968. 96 2, 413. 94 56, 110. 65 OPERATIONS OF THE SERVICE IN PORTO RICO. Service operations in Porto Rico for the fiscal year embraced, as in the previous year, quarantine, marine-hospital relief, medical inspection of immigrants and miscellaneous duties. The service maintains quarantine stations at San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo, Aguadilla, Fajardo, Humacao, Arroyo, Guanica, and Jobos (Aguirre). Immigrations inspection is done at all these ports, but marine-hospital relief is furnished only at San Juan and Ponce. Quarantine is the most important phase of the service operations in Porto Rico. The medical officer in charge at San Juan is chief quarantine officer for Porto Rico and has under his supervision and direction all quarantine matters at the other ports. At San Juan is maintained the only quarantine station in Porto Rico, located on Miraflores Island, in San Juan Bay. It is equipped with quarters for noncommissioned officers and attendants, detention quarters, disinfecting and fumigating apparatus, etc. The office is located in San Juan, in the old naval station, occupying a commodius building belonging to the service. Here are located also the out-patient dispensary and a small station laboratory. Total number of days passengers in quarantine_ 261 81 38 50 30, 805 12, 532 138 58,748 17, 409 5,034 Cases of sickness (nonquarantinable) occurring among passengers in quarantine___ Number of vessels arriving with quarantinable disease on board (smallpox). Number of cases of smallpox on above vessels. 15, 207 482 1,668 8 6 17 295 3, 021 30 220 8 Packages of cargo fumigated to kill rats. Steam vessels inspected.. Sailing vessels inspected__ Vessels held in quarantine_ Vessels fumigated_ 84 32 16 3 4,305 5, 482 289 7, 450 Bills of health issued_. Immigrants certified__ Certified immigrants landed_. Certified immigrants deported__ Service patients treated in hospital_. Days relief furnished__ Service patients treated at out-patient office_ 1 One patient died and was buried at sea before arrival. antine station. 2 One immigrant was brought forward from previous year, 88 120 4 None. 4 10 100 28 54 One patient died at quar |