New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-24
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
Lcprosy I'm Norway.

The Erangeiicat Catholic contains letter
from J. c. Richmond to Rev. DR.. wainwright written
from Bergen, in Norway, upon the existence of the
oaihsome disease of Leprosy In that Northern region
1t appears that imported there about thousand
years since, and has gradually extended along the
whole length of the from the Maze 70 the North
Cape Its spread inland has been very slow but 1t Is
penetrating inland by the deep fcrds and gulis and
now occasionally found far in the interior.
The Government has at length taken the matter In
hand and In addition to "leprosy house" which has
existed for 500 years and now contains i35 PATIENTS
has recently built hospital the ra that the rorId erer
knec for the of leprosy IL has been only three
years in operation under the skilful management Of
Dr. Daniessen; and this gentleman believes that he
has succeeded in curing eight leper the fret that have
ever been cured by medical means. He has Analysed
the blood OF the diseased persons and finds 10 csntsn
too much albumen and ebrle matter and Of course di
rects his efforts to the removal OF the excess.
Mr. X. says To-day. (Sept. 2O) have seen number
of his patients whom he considers nearly cured and
those who have been sent home going on well. He
estimates the whole number in Norway at 1900 and
says is increasing and would have been much larger
but for the character OF the country The people dwt1
far apart that the disease has spread seii but slowly
Yet the increase has aroused the Sorthng or Norwegian
Congress 20 grant 5000 species toward build
ing third hospital in Bergen. This very large sum
for country Ike Norway and the results OF Dr.. Dan
anxiety, az the disease is considered great national
calamity.
But the point to which with to cali attention IL this
In some places the western coast OF Norway the
number OF lepers among the people b nearly one In
fifty and it precisely from the western coast that NE
Increasing emigration 10 Aaerica dkes place DR. Dan
iesen sys ne is certain that the disease VIII show IL
self among these emlgrants tor he knows eprous md
yduals who have gone TO the United States and one in
particular quite recently, whom he endeayored in vain
10 dssusde and in whom the disease only begin.
ming to appear Now though 1t Ia never contagious II
Ia always and without fall hereditary, and there " the
les-t spot in either of the parents Is dbsotey cedts
10 appear In the descendants though, ike other hercd
taYy Affections, II often passes over one generation
Owing to larger and increasing population, viii
spread much rapidly in America and II Is sure 70
become prevaie disease Ia Western States But
as vet II is comparatively in power for most VI
the Norwegsns are settled together, and almost every
might now be found.
"For the future, would propose some remedy OF
thefoIlowing nature Many vesses with emigrsnts
sail annuaAy from Norway the United States They
land chiefly in New-York Let the city or the State
enact law and make 1t known IN Norway, appointing
physician 10 inquire II the disease esi,t among inc
euigranfs who arrive and If any such be found. let
them have their choice between being Transferred TO
hospital or returned TO thar own country The remedy
may act hsTshy in some individual cases but II by
no means more tyrsnca than the quarantine lava that
already exist IL will tend 20 secure future generations
against Of the most fearful calamtes that can Do
come permanent among people
Gould you have witnessed, as indeed you did In the
East the poor creatures some afflicted with that type OF
the dsesse which the face and even the eyeds
with red tubercler and by the growth Of the same with
In the throat destroys the speech or reduces It 70
husky and hosrse effort while the poor leper in few
year, descends to the tomb could you behold the
limbs by degrees dropping from the body, and while
they remained destitute OF feeling thai tie poor SUI
ferers frequently burn Themselves with deep scars De
fore they are even of the heat you would not
wonder that should wish arouse such attention be-
fore it be late may secure our postery against
this loaths0me infection"