The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1881-05-28
I.eprOsy.

CASE PRIV diItHS, " SOAAo
in lowe, Latourche, the Chenlere
Caminada, and other places IN
this State, which was believed to
be that horrible and incurable dis
ease, known as Leprosy has been
commented upon for several years
by the SENTINEL.
1t was a matter Of intense in
terest to the citizens Of LatOurche
tc establish the fact. whether this
malady was Leprosy or whether
it was something OF a less horri-
BILE nature. Some four or five
years ago the Editor OF the Sen
TINEL brought the subject to the
consideration OF Hon. }. 5. Bill
liu, Representative to the Legls-
lature, who had a resolution pass
ed through the Legislature, i'll
structing the State Board OF
Health to send a skilltal physi-
clan to this Parish to give the
subject Il thorough and careful
investigation. Ii, the disease was
leprosy, the people desired to
know it if it was not. Il great in
Jury was being done the unfortu-
mates who were suffering with the
unknown aff1iction.
The Police Jury Of Lafcurche.
also appropriated one hundred
dollars to defray the expenses of
such investigation. No action
was ever taken by the Board OF
Health then in existence.
Subsequently, Mr.. Billieu's ats
was called to this negl-
sence of the State Board of
Health in this important matter
aud on FED. q, 1880, that gentle,
men addressed Il note to the
President OF the Board DR.. Chop
,h: asking whether he intended
% take the matter into considera.
ion.
DR.. Chopin died soon after.
On July Ii 1880, the Presi-
lent OF the Police Jury addressed
communication to the State
}oard of Health "urging an i'm
Mediate Investigation as to the
of the disease called lepro-
y, which was reported to be pre-
'aient, more especially III Lo yer
4atourcht.
In a letter dated July 26 1880
Joseph Jones PreSiden; Of the
State Board of Health replied
hat steps would he taken to car
y out the wishes of the Police
ury.
On October 2 1880 DR.. Jones ar
wed in Thibodanx, where he was
FINISHED with transportation for
i,nself and sou, and will, Mr..
Ohm e. Raglan as II guide, imme-
proceeded down the Bay
"a to the infected localities.
He was also supplied with the
DltOwing document AS an evil
ence OF his authority to make
UGH Investigations as he deemed
ecessary.
Office Police Jury
Paris Of Lafourche,
Thibodaux La. Oct. =, 1885,
b Whom it''moy concern:
Dr. Joseph Jones. President OF the Board
/ Health. of the State of Louisiana is now
b the request of the Police Jury OF this
arish. on il Visit iuqu:ring into the facts
hepr0sy said to exist on the low
LitOurclle.
All citizens are requested to furnish him
it'll such facilities aware possible. to eua-
e him to accomplish his object.
s. T. GRISAMORE,
President.
Dr. Jonas in his able aud ex
anstlve report to the Legisla-
ire explains fnllv his Journey
own the Bayou and d%ilates,] to a
'n>idrra6le extent,on the nature,
'il, the customs of; the people
nd the character OF tue food ca
mon the lower bayou.
Or: Jones says:
at is evident that the inhabi Z.
.nts Of Lower Laf0urche, are
'hJect to the constant action Of
low moist malarial atmosphere. .
Another point Of interest in :
is inquiry, is that the diet of !
eSe people consists largely of :
x, fish, and Wild birds and ami )
ais as the variouS varieties of :
lcks, cranes, snipes, woodcock, ,
ccoons, opossums, squirrels aud :
bbets. Il
''lt is said that fish eating PEG '
. are i'll Dourished, and 10 East 9
= countries are particularly liza !, !
. to become leprous. y
districts on the Mediter y
'aen Coast of Spain are cited as :
istrat'ons OF these facts, where II
ere rs d fish eating community. /"
OF tn" West coast OF Norway .
Ana tie disease. y
is possible that the prolonga +
.: - ::tr'osy III this and similar l.
may in Il meas =
be due to the effects of eli \
'tr, soil and food but from the