Note 1 — Chapter XVI · Health Conditions
Reading edition
The average Spaniard was a firm believer in the noxiousness of night air, which he said produced paludismo.1 Most Filipinos were afraid of an imaginary spirit, devil or mythical creature known as asuáng, and closed their windows and doors after dark as a protection against it. Thus it came about that in a country where fresh air is especially necessary at night no one got it.