To better understand this phenomenon and to explain it as it
really is and not as it apparently exists, it is worth while
to compare it with the appearance of a new sentiment which was
formed since the implantation of the American regime: the hygienic
consciousness. Formerly, hardly anybody spoke of the unsanitary
conditions of Manila, and only a few in our society had a true
idea of its deplorable state. Now that our individual education
has enabled us to understand what hygiene is and its importance has
been demonstrated, we have not only improved our sanitary condition
but a collective sentiment equal to the sum total of the individual
sentiments has been formed, and a public opinion in favor of hygiene
has been established. Since this opinion grows more rapidly than
sanitation itself in Manila, we see that every once in a while the
Bureau of Health is censured to the point of attributing to its
fault the increase of anti-hygienic conditions, when in reality what
increases is the clamor for hygiene by virtue of the increase of the
individuals who understand hygiene and demand strict application of
its laws and principles.
Now public opinion denounces hygienic shortcomings which are
incomparably less harmful than formerly, but which we view not in a
relative but absolute manner. An unsanitary condition is denounced
absolutely as an intolerable evil; relatively speaking our censure
would be less severe if we bore in mind that a similar ill is not
close at hand; we suffered in silence when we were ignorant not of its
existence but of its effects upon health, so then for us it existed
in a latent state and we did not see, feel, or notice it because of
lack of preparation. It is identical to what happens when at the
foot of a post charged with electric current is placed the sign:
"Danger to life." Such a sign is practically useless and is no means
of safety to the individual who does not know how to read. The one
who can read knows the danger; he who does not read does not avail
himself of the hygienic value of the danger signal.