An inspection of the insane confined in the municipal jails and hospitals shows that there were 225 insane requiring treatment, and orders have been given for their admission as soon as the requirements of law have been complied with.

Proper blanks and instructions have been also prepared for the careful study of each case.

Many chronic harmless insane have been found and it is the intention of the medical officers of the institution to turn them over to their relatives or to the municipality from which they came in order to make space for other more urgent cases. This plan if carried out will greatly relieve the difficulties involved in the care of the insane and diminish the expense of maintenance.

The number of patients on June 30, 1917, was 421. During the year 164 were admitted, 30 were discharged as cured, 23 left the asylum uncured at the request of their guardians, and 46 died during the year.

During the year no epidemics have been reported. The health of the inmates has been good and the mortality was 11 per cent.

Blind asylum. The number of patients in this institution on June 30, 1916, was 76. One hundred and sixty-three were admitted during the fiscal year. One hundred and five left cured, 46 left improved, and 8 died of various diseases. There were 118 operations performed during the year. The number of inmates remaining in the asylum on June 30, 1917, was 48 men and 25 women, making a total of 73.

INSULAR BOARD OF HEALTH.

During the year under review this board has prepared various rules and regulations which have in turn been approved by the executive council and the governor and now have the force of law.

These rules and regulations cover vaccination; transmissible diseases, the removal of corpses; cemeteries, burials, disinterments and cremations; transmissible diseases of animals; the prohibition of the sale of fowls suffering from certain transmissible diseases; the organization and regulation of the profession of embalmers and disinfectors; the storage and sale of foods and drugs; and the health of operatives and the conditions which shall prevail in the buildings and places devoted to the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes, etc.

Rules and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy; the supply and sale of water; the manufacture of sausages, fritters and other cooked foods; and amendments to the regulations and rules governing dairies, milk depots, and the sale of milk, and governing the keeping of dogs, the suppression of stray animals, and prevention of rabies, have also been drafted and are now pending approval.

The regulation governing vaccination was drafted in accordance with the sanitary law which provides for the compulsory vaccination of all the inhabitants of the island, and the board has recommended the creation of an insular vaccine institute for the purpose of facilitating vaccination at all times.

In order to prevent as far as possible the introduction into the island of epidemic poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) an amendment was made to the existing sanitary rules so as to place this in the list of diseases notifiable within 24 hours; and one of the members of this board visited the United States, especially the city of New York, for the purpose of making a study of this disease, and as a result

of his investigations the board has suggested a series of prophylactic measures for the consideration and adoption by the sanitation authorities of the island.

The regulation governing the manufacture of cigars and cigarettes was amended so as to permit the establishment of departments for the stripping of tobacco within the urban zone. Inasmuch as this work is usually performed by women living in the towns and who, under the original regulation, would be obliged to give up this means of livelihood, and inasmuch as the inconveniences caused by stripping the tobacco in the manner actually practiced outside the urban zone would be offset by efficient and positive sanitary improvements in the factories, it was agreed to authorize the stripping of tobacco within the urban zone, but subject to such regulations as would prevent its being a menace to public health.

This board has also recommended that a beginning be promptly made to improve the sanitary conditions in Puerta de Tierra which has frequently been the source of epidemics and seriously threatened the health of the city of San Juan during the present year by an outbreak of scores of cases of measles.

INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE.

The investigations of the institute have continued along the same lines as in former years and the examinations made, by reason of the interest awakened in the medical profession of the island, have been larger than in previous years.

On account of the present abnormal conditions and the lack of sufficient funds the hospitalization of patients and the annual expedition to other points of the island could not be made.

More attention than ever before has been given to the study of the cause of sprue and now the bases for its specific treatment have been found. In connection with this work the services of Dr. Carl Michel, assistant surgeon, United States Public Health Service, were of great value.

Owing to the present state of war between the United States and Germany the institute regrets the loss of Dr. Bailey K. Ashford, who was detailed to duty with the Army in France. We feel also the loss of Dr. W. W. King's services, who has been assigned to sanitary work in the Virgin Islands.

A few scientific articles have been written by the members of the institute embracing their respective investigations. Some have already been published and the others will be given to the public in the near future.

INSULAR POLICE.

The only change of importance made in the organization was the separation of the detective force into a distinct body of 25 men, classified into three grades and called bureau of information. The entire number of the whole force, including the bureau of information and officers of all ranks, is 718. The work of the force was considerably increased by strikes among the longshoremen, agricultural and other laborers which were widely scattered throughout the island and continued in a desultory manner throughout the whole year. A good record for efficiency was made by the whole force during the year. Public order was maintained and much valuable assistance was afforded to all the various departments of the Government by 24426-WAR 1917-VOL 3- -7

the police force as a whole, due to its excellent organization widely distributed over the entire island. This was especially true with regard to the military registration, recruiting of volunteers for the Porto Rico regiment, and other military work made necessary by the state of war.

Out of 50,233 arrests made during the year, 84 per cent of convictions were secured, with 1,324 cases still pending. The removal of the Porto Rican regiment from the island increases somewhat the responsibilities and potential importance of the police, and it is recommended that its personnel be slightly increased.

Complete statistics with reference to the work of the insular police force will be found in Exhibit C of Appendix I.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

Applications for examinations were received during the fiscal year from 1,156 persons, which is 270 fewer than in the preceding year. Nine hundred and fifty-four persons were examined and 453, or 47.48 per cent, passed. The commission also examined 242 persons for the United States Civil Service Commission. Of these, 206 took examinations for appointment in Porto Rico and 140, or 67.42 per cent, passed.

One hundred and seventy-three appointments were made as a result of examinations as against 98 for the previous year, this increase being due to the larger number of positions in the classified service provided for in the budget.

There has been no difficulty in securing sufficient eligibles for clerical positions, but it has been almost impossible to secure competent stenographers and typewriters. During the year only 31 applications were received for this examination; of these, 27 reported for examination and only 9 passed. In the examination for typewriters there were 90 competitors of whom only 31 passed.

Of the 5,441 positions in the government, 1,284 are in the classified service and 4,157 are in the unclassified service. Only 327 of the total number of positions in the service, both classified and unclassified, are filled by nonnatives of the island, and most of these are teachers. Statistics concerning the work of the commission will be found in Exhibit E of Appendix I.

BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

During the year just ended, 41 applicants for licenses as general practitioners, 18 as minor surgeons, 21 as nurses, and 1 as optometrist were examined by this board. Of these, 29 physicians, 9 minor surgeons, 20 nurses, and 1 optometrist passed and were duly licensed upon payment of the requisite fees. A license was also issued to a doctor of the United States Army without examination upon presentation of satisfactory documents and certificates.

After a careful study of the matter by one of its members, a list of schools for optometrists the diplomas of which are acceptable to the board was prepared and approved, and in consonance with its usual practice, the board has devoted a considerable part of its time to investigations for the purpose of reporting to the proper authorities persons practicing the medical profession unlawfully.

The recommendation made last year for a clerk exclusively for the examining boards is urged again, with a view to securing prompter attention to the various matters that come up for their consideration.

BOARD OF PHARMACY.

During the year this board examined 21 candidates for licenses to practice as druggists, of whom 12, or 57.14 per cent, passed.

A number of matters have come up for decision by the board, including requests for its basing the examinations on the textbooks used in the University of Porto Rico and making their scope more general. The board, however, did not see its way clear to grant these petitions, for the reason that its examinations for licenses are intended for graduates of any school or college and that experience has fully demonstrated the need of their being made as searching as possible.

The board has refused to accept a principal teacher's certificate as the equivalent of the legal requisite of a high-school education, has sent to the attorney general for proper action a number of cases where in its judgment there was conclusive evidence that licenses had been improperly issued, and has reported to the police for investigation some drug stores whose owners have not met all the requirements of law.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO RICO.

The University of Porto Rico has had a successful year and presents a creditable record of achievement for 1916-17. The enrollment of students reached 1,174, being 124 more than the number enrolled during the previous year. The work accomplished in all departments has been marked by increasing efficiency.

The board of trustees has established important regulations concerning courses of study, conferring of diplomas, credits from other institutions, etc., as well as the necessary rules for the examination of candidates for admission to the bar.

The special course for the preparation of rural teachers, including work in agriculture, rural hygiene, sanitation, and elementary science, which was adopted this year, has proved a success, and when further additions to the faculty become possible, the normal department should, in addition to the courses now established, provide special courses for the preparation of teachers for primary, intermediate, and upper grades of elementary schools.

The law course has been extended from three to four years, and one additional instructor has been appointed and the registrar has also conducted some classes.

The course in pharmacy has also been extended one year, from two to three years, and an additional instructor has also been provided. The practice school building at Rio Piedras has been altered so as to provide an assembly hall, but there is still pressing need for new buildings, and there ought to be a gymnasium which could serve at the same time as a place for indoor military drill for the cadets as well as a recreation hall and social center for the university.

The campus roads have been provided with electric lights, and a fund has been obtained by voluntary subscriptions for the purpose of erecting on the campus a memorial to the late Hon. Luis Munoz Rivera, a distinguished patriot, who at the time of his death was Porto Rico's resident commissioner at Washington.

A part of the university reserve funds has been used for the purchase of liberty bonds; and two instructors have entered the officers' training camp.

The college of agriculture and mechanic arts at Mayaguez has made steady progress throughout the year, with an enrollment of 290 students, being the largest number ever enrolled during any year.

The courses have been divided into collegiate and subcollegiate; the latter extends four years beyond the common-school course and is designed to offer a thorough practical education to boys who are unable to continue in college until they receive a degree.

A new and up-to-date 10-room science building has been opened for use during the past year, and besides this a machine shop has been fitted up, completing the shop equipment in mechanic arts; and in addition to these a new chemical laboratory, and also a laboratory for soil analysis and crop experimentation have been provided, and other necessary laboratories are being installed.

Much experimental work has been carried out along the lines of crop fertility, the preparation of soils, and the effects of certain fertilizers upon various crops, with very satisfactory results. The college has also joined in the nation-wide movement for the increase of food supply by furnishing plots of land to those who would plant them. A report of the board of trustees will be found herein annexed to the report of the commissioner of education.

CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

This handsome and commodious building has been open to the public a little more than a year, and the attendance has gradually increased until it has now reached 150 daily.

One of the main features of this new building is a large children's room, and especial attention has been given to the securing of appropriate books and periodicals for this important department. Two clerks are in charge of this department, whose duties are to look after the juvenile patrons and present to them the uses and benefits of the library.

A plan has been developed to put into operation a system of traveling libraries, so that some 40 municipalities may participate in the benefits of this institution, and if found to be practicable the scheme will be gradually extended until it reaches all the towns of

the island.

The total accessions for the year amounted to 1,830 books, 1,567 by purchase and 263 by gift; notable among these latter is the collection of the late Manuel Maria Sama, comprising more than 200 volumes by Porto Rican authors. Of the total accessions, 720 books were in Spanish and 1,110 in English. Large orders for books were placed both in the United States and Spain, but due to transportation difficulties, caused by the war, they have not yet arrived. This explains the apparent falling off in the number of books acquired during the year, since books are not listed as accessions until actually received.

IRRIGATION COMMISSION.

This commission completed its work and dissolved on June 30, 1917, having formed and put in operation the permanent irrigation district. The duties imposed upon the commission by law were: (1)