The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-28
ANINCURABLED
"MAke ROOM Foa raeLEpER, RooMn
The Treatment of Patient for L.proy a. Phil.
sdslphia-nsdIelue and Science Futlls-Pseu.
ilarSymptOus and Progress ofths lniletiOa.
The Patient and his Early History.

The Patient aad his Early HIstory.
PHILADELPHIA, February ga young
man atilicted with leprosy, who came two
months ago from Honolulu to this city as
q patient OF Professor Samuel D. Gross,
has just returned home uncured, although
there was perceptible change for III
better in hishealth. The case is one Of the
most remarkable that was ever under the
notice OF the faculty Of Philadelphia. Drs.
Hogen and Trousseau, who are well known
on the Sandwich Islands, sent the patient
with letter Of introduction and q descrip-
ton OF his condition to Professor Gross,
stating that they had advised trip to this
country for change and for the benefit Of
good medical advice.
The full name Of the patient is withheld,
his initials being given as 81. +. and his
age 81. He was born in Honolulu, bis
parents beingemigrants from New Hamp.
shire. He had always led rather dissipa.
ted lie, and about eight years ago, after
slight indisposition, noticed dead spot Of
skin Just above his knee. II spread slowly
and was only about twice rs large four
years after It's first appearance. This was
the commencement Of the terrible leprosy
with which 80 many Sandwich Island
ers are cursed. During the fifth year,
however, the dead spot increased and
rapidly spread. The fingers and
prickpg pains ran through the extremi.
ttaa 10 Hal k,ta fanI
ing, which put the young man into such
condition that he could scarcely distinguish
solid substances when picked up by the
hands. He was placed under medical
treatment, but in spite OF 1t his state con-
tinued to grow worse, his noss became red
and dead to the touch, q small elevation
appeared between the eyebrows, the pre-.
vious symptoms became more marked and
torpid feeling set in in the small Of the
back. ~.
1t was at this stage that he was brought
to Philadelphia. The trip, 1t was thought,
would not endanger others on the steam
ship Ia which be came, as the disease was
regarded as non.contagious.
He was man OF more than the average
intelligence, with brown hair and an oily,
shining complexion, Of dirty sallow color.
The eyes were heavy, the lids dropping
and the general appearance careworn. He
looked at least fifty years OF age. On
stripping him at the hospital here DR.. Gross
found the muscles OF the body very
much wasted. The heart was found 10 be
normal, but rapid in It's action. It
was remarked that the toes Of both
feet, like the fingers, were insensible, es.
pecially 10 the prick OF needle. The
diagnosis Of the case proved to the salts
faction Of all the doctors who studied the
patient that the symptoms were those OF
leprosy. Nearly all the recognized pheno-
mena OF the various varieties OF the ailllc-
tion were present. 1t appeared that the
disease began in what is known as the
an9sthetic form and gradually passed into
the more complicated and violent stages.
DR.. John V. Shoemaker, who took 30
great an interest in the case that he has
written treatise, which describes 1t from
the beginning and which will appear in the
professional msgazine, Medicine and Surgery,
for March, prescribed treatment. IL wss
an aperient pill, followed by dose consis-
ting OF two teaspoonfuls OF compound tine
ture OF gentian with FIVE drops each Of tine.
ture of nux vomica and dilute phosphoric
hClu III WhtclI AuLlluintcltu hltCT Ilchip. ~
was hoped by these remedies TO tone up
the digestive organs and assist nutrition.
Equal parts Of Chalmoogra oil and oleate
Of mercury were ordered to be rubbed
over all the anGsthetic spots after the pa
tient had taken steam vapor bath.
Outdoor exercise and something to oc.
cupy his mind were especially urged. Alter
three days the young man looked some
what better, his tongue was cleaner and
his digestion improved. All the other
symptoms were as before.
A clinic was shortly afterwards arranged,
at which were present among others DR.. @.
Young, Chicago; DR.. s. Sutton, Mendon,
Pa; DR.. Frederick de Graft, Germany, and
DR.. F. E. Stewar:, OF this city. DR.. Shoe
maker stated that the disease could by
proper hygienic measures be alleyiated but
not cured, an opinion which Is largely
held. Alter the clinic, at which nothing
was devised for the benefit OF the patient,
DR.. Shoemaker advised him to leave Homo
lulu, TO seek some agricultural district in
cold, mountainous region and to keep his
mind and body both employed. AT this
he grew very respondent and said that on
bis way to the city he had every hope OF
being cured; that the thought Of being an
outcast In society, to be hunted down for
isolation and to be Stunned by every one
had almost turned his reason and he only
wished 10 die,