Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-01
THE LEPERs.
a White Elephant on the Hands OF the
Citv BOARD of Health.

Health examined into the case OF leper
then reported, and resolved that it should be
removed from the city. Shortly after the
Mayor, accompanied by representative OF
the RECORD UNION and an interpreter, VS.
tied the leper at the place where he stays un,
derneath tie Fairchild rookery, at ihird ana
/ streets, and full account OF his conoitioh
| and the case was given in these columns.
There was then but one there afflicted with
the disease. but his case was the most forbid
ding and abject both as to his physical CON
dition and the pestilential surroundings. Az
| that time the Health Officer had been Iu-
formed. and it was understood by the Board
of Health, that the leper would soon leave
the city of his own accord, and one oolecs OF
the visit of the Mayor was to ascertain now
soon he would leave. Upon conversation
with him, through the interpreter, he stated
that he would 90 as soon as he could collect
! in monev-some three or four hundred dol
lars-which he had loaned out to Chinatown
merchants. and promised that if he was al
lowed to remain three or four months ne
would then leave the city. The Mayor
urged the necessity Of his going sooner, but
he said he could not, but would promptly at
the time specified. The representatives OF
two Of the Chinese companies were also con-
suited. and the one to which the leper belongs
| promised To 10 jill SOuta W o.
moved in less than the ninety days. 1t
seemed to the Board clearly advisable to get
rid of the case, if possible by letting the man
co away of his own motion, as he had prom
ised to do, and further action was postponed.
Meantime another leper came upon the
scene and took up quarters and companion
ship with the former one. The disease IN the
case of the last one is not so advanced
stage as the other, but it is active and fast
doing its deadly work. When the period OF
three months had nearly expired they were
visited bv the Board of Health, to see that
the promise of leaving was carried out, and
when the time had arrived they did not go,
and sought for further delay. The Board then
sought to compel them to go, and ordered
them to leave within two weeks. AT the end
of that time they were still here to receive
another notice, and this time they were
ordered to leave within ten days, or they
would be arrested This was given out with
an authoritative air and frmness that was IN
| tended to carry dismay into the leprous
camp and as the last resort, stimulate to action,
but it proved only double back action joke
upon the Board; for the lepers they not
STAYED as usual but no one would dare to take
the fatally diseased beings in hand, and there
was no place to put them after they should
be arrested. Arriving at this condition of
affairs the Board of Health sent communi-
cation to the Board of Supervisors at its ses-
sion last week, requesting that it provide
place and means for their maintenance and
care. The Board of Supervisors asked the
opinion of the District Attorney as to the
power and duty of the Board in the premises,
which was given as follows:
To the Hon. Board of Supervisors Gentlemen
am in receipt of your official communication ask
ing for information concerning the proper disposi
ton to be made of the cases OF two Cinnamon re-
81 IIaaNf hahn
with leprosy. In reply, l respectfully submit to
your honorable body that under Section z952 OF the
Political Code ample power Is conferred upon
Boards Of Supervisors to provide quarters wherein
persons affected with the disease known as leprosy
may be confined and thus be prevented from hvlng
in ordinary intercourse with the people OF this State
The portion of the Political Code to which reference
is had is quoted, as follows, to VIII " IL sna moi De
lawful for lepers persons affected with leprosy or
eephantasis, to live III ordinary intercourse with
the population of this State but all such persons
shall be compelled to inhabit such laZarettos or
leprous quarters may be assigned TO them by
the Board of Supervisors of the city or county in
which they shall be dorlciled or settled and the
Board of Supervisors are vested with power and are
required to make all necessary provisions Tor the
separation, detention and care OF lepers or persons
affected with leprosy or elephantiasls settled or
dOmIcied in their respective cities or counties The
superintendent or manager OF all lepers quarters
under this chapter shall forward quarterly state
ments, showing the name, age, sex and birthplace
of each leper i'll such quarter to the Secretary OF
State, who shall keep proper record OF s1ch mat
tiers for the information OF the public In addition
to the foregoing Article ~. OF Chapter ii OF Title
VII Of the Political Code, confers upon the Board
of Health OF the city of Sacramento power to estab
ish and locate pest hou and cause 10 be removed
thereto persons affected with contagious or lnfec-
Gus diseases and this Article having been by the
Board of Trustees reenacted in the shape Of city
ordinance, fully empowers the Board OF Health to
establish separate quarters for the care OF lepers
Respect lily submitted.
HENRY L BUCKLEY, District Attorney.
Upon the receipt OF this communication
from the District Attorney, the Board of Su-
pervisors referred the same to the Board of
Health, with the statement that it seemed to
be the duty Of the Board OF Trustees and the
city to take care Of the cases referred to, in-
stead of its being d)ne by the county. The
matter was then referred to the Board OF Trus-
tees and that body called upon the City
Attorney for his opinion in the premises,
which was yesterday submitted, and is as
follows:
To the Board Of Trustees OF the City Of Sacra-
mento- Gentlemen Your communication relating
to the proper disposition of persons affected with
leprosy is at hand. Ia my judgment, under Section
1852 of the Political Code it is lndatory upon the
Board OF Supervisors to make provision for the sep
aration detention and of persons affected with
leprOsv. 1t the evident Intention OF the law
making power to make an exception and distinction
in Of leprosy, or elephantlasis, from other
contagious infectious diseases, and in this class
of cases impose the entire responsibility upon the
Board Of Supervisors. The language OF the section
is Z" The Board OF Supervisors are vested with
power and required TO make al PROVISIONS for
the separation, detention and of epers or
PERSONS affected with leprosy elephantiasis set
tied or domicled in their respective counties"
Sections 1914 and 3Gi5 Of the Political Code, in
connection with Section 2, Chapter ", Ordinance
No. II and Ordinance No. 100 of this city, give the
Board of Health general supervision over all mat
tiers pertaining to the public health, and empowers
such Board TO locate and establish pest houses for
those having contagious or infectious disease. OF
course, under these broad powers the Board Of
Health could provide for any class OF contagious or
infectious disease. But nasnuch as the Legislature
has particularly singled out leprosy or elephantssi
from all other diseases and made It the special duty
OF the Board f Supervisors to provide for the sep
aration, detention and OF those affected there
with deem it the duty Of the Board Of Health 10
report all Of leprosy olephantiasis to the
Board Of Supervisors for their action Very .pect
fully, your obedient servant,
W a. ANDERSON, City Attorney.
This follows the meanderings Of the case up
to last evening, and the next probable action
very probably will be a reference of the mat.
ter to the Board OF Supervisors. 1t is not
considered by either the city or county
pleasant obligation to assume to take charge
Of the lepers and provide quarters, attendants
and support for them during the remaining
period of their lives, as of course it would be.
/ It il claimed that if the present pest-house,
beyond the County Hospital, was used for
them. it would have to he abandoned for other
classes of cases and another one built. il
needed. Besides, the question OF jurisdiction,
| it is thought, might lie perplexing one in
case the city was to be called upon to provide
for them, since pes.-house within the city
! limits would clearly be nuisance and could
not be allowed while il it were located out
side the city lines the city authorities would
have 20 jurisdiction over it and the legality
Of appropriations to maintain it might be
brought in question.
A PERMANENT ORGASIzATIoN.-The Sac
ramento company of the Army and Navy
Republican League, or Boys in Blue. have
organized as a permanent institution, intend
| ing to continue the organization outside of
campaigns, to perpetuste the brotherhood
! formerly gained on the field. The officers
are as follows: w. A. Houghton, Comman-
der; C. H. Hubbard, Senior Vice Com
mander John Daugherty, Junior Vice
! Commander; II. Bennett, Adjutant; y. L.
| Dodge, Quar;ermaster Fred. Dustman,
| Officer Of the Day. Council of Admuistra-
ton, G.. II. Hubbard. G. w. Ficks, Chas. L.
| Adams, Frank Miller, J. 9. Medley end
/ Thomas Berkey Bureau of Employment.
| John Dsugherty, Ii. Bennett, John Nc.
| Fe;rish, Frank Miller, Fred. Dustman and
j. C. Medley. The objects of the orgsniza-
ton are stated to be- 1st. To unite In the
active support of the principles of the Re-