The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-12-25 00:00:00

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FATHER DAMIAN AND THE LEPER.

The Catholic Missions, a German monthly publica-
tion, publishes a letter from Father Damian, the
missionary priest in the leper settlement at Molokai,
which contains the following passage: "For about 20
years our most distinguished physicians tried every
possible means to master this dreadful disease, but
all their efforts failed to check the spread of the dis-
temper. About three years ago a white man was
seized with leprosy. Being very wealthy he preferred
to go to Japan rather than to submit to a lifelong
exile in Molokai. In Japan he continued for two
years a course of hydropathic treatment under Dr.
Goto. He returned hither, accompanied by the son
of Dr. Goto, with every appcurance of a perfect cure.
About the end of last year the health committee re-
solved to introduce, under the supervision of Dr.
Goto, the Japanese treatment into the leper hos-
pital, which is in-the charge of Franciscan Sisters at
Kakaako, near Honolulu. Already then I felt in-
clined to g..) to Honolulu 1.. consult Dr. Goto abeut the
disease, which had already made havoc with one of
my ears. At that time, however, my superiors did
not consider the step advisable. Last July, however,
I had occasion to personally satisfy myself of the suc-
cess whicn had attended the treatment in questioojn
the hospital of the Sistera at Kakaako, and to c'are-
fully observe its method, which consists in this : Every
day the leper has to take two baths in hot water,
in which a certain quantity of Japanese medicine
has been dissolved. After every meal he has to
take a small pill, and an hour later an ounce of
tea, prepared from the bark of a Japanese tree. This
is the whole treament. Both young Dr. Goto and the
white patient, of whom I made mention above, have
assured me that in Japan many a leper has been
completely cured by this treatment. Whatever
truth there be in this statement, I must own that
the improvement during these six months in the con-
dition of many lepers, whose illness was already in
a very developed state, has been simply marvellous. I
think myself therefore justified in seeing in this treat.
ment a glimmer of hope for our poor outcast lepers of
Molokai. King Kalakaua and his Prime Minister
honoured me with a visit during my short stay at the
hospital at Kakaako, near Honolulu. They told me
it was 'heir intention to introdu:..e the same quern of
treatment in our great leper settlement. I look for-
ward with satisfaction to the day on which we shall
receive a steam boiler which may heat about 15 bath
tubs at the same time. For a few weeks I have
undergone the treatment in question. At the same time
I commenced the same treatment with about 40 or 50
of my orphan children. We have already derived
some benefit from it. My work seems lighter and
my strength is returning. Last Sunday, for instance.
I said two masses and preached during each without
being obliged to sit down and without, feeling par-
ticularly wearied.

WHAT have you been doing up in the 3ustuw:*'s
office ? asked a man of a serious-looking individual
who came down the stairs.—Are you married, my
friend? interrogated the serious-looking individual.
—Yes, replied the - other.—ls your mother-in-law
living ?—No.—Well, then, you will not fully appre-
ciate what I have been doing. I have been taking an
oath--a solemn oath7-ttbat if my wife died and I
should marry again my second wife will be an orphir
If I have to wait until she is a hundred years old.
A Few days ago two ladies, one of whom carried a
baby, entered a . Boston carpet store and signified
their desire. to look at some carpets. It was a very
warm day, but the salesman showed cheerfully roll
after roll until the perspiration 'literally streamed
from .every-poPep-of his-body. .Finally ne of the
,ked &hehva,selie 4 vutiliink.itaa44oo
to go.—Nequite, was the answer of her companion,
and then, in an undertone, she added: Baby likes to
see him roll them out, and it is not time to take the
train vet,

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