The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-02-03
THE HORRORS OF LEPRosY,
scenes in the New
Brunsyyick Lazaretto..--Ialpris ID
for Life and Awaiting Death.

SCtueS III the NEW
Brunswick zaretto..--lMprisOned
for Life and Awaiting Death.
The sights of misery which abound In the
leprosy colony Of New Brunswick are not sur
passed in horror by those so common in the
far-oH Islands where the contagion is believed
to have originated, Half a century ago a man
named Gardner, Scotchman and resident
OF the little town OF Miramicbi, saw a fawn-
c0lored spot on his wife's forehead Anon
there was ofninous swellings at the corners of
her eyes. The fawncolored spots were doubled
and quadrupled. The husband sought the
advice OF DIR. Mackey, a young medical gradu-
ate. This physician made careful study II
the disease. 1t baffled his skill. So engr ssed
was he in its study that he grew thin and
pale. Sleepless nights were passed. To add
to his distraction his attention was directed to
second case. The victim was a Mrs. Landry,
living seventy-fve miles from Miramiehi. OF
French extraction, she was in no way related
to Mrs. Gardner. Fawn eolored spots appeared
upon her body. Her skin became as transpar-
ent and as scaly as isinglass. The contraction
the fin GERS and the omnous swelling of the
eyes were there. There were the same aches
and pains as in the case of Mrs. Gardner. The
physician was nonPlussed. At the end OF his
medical rope, Determined TO ascertain the true
character of the disease, he sold his little
property and went to Europe. He Travelled
through England, France and Germany, and
CLEANED no information. Acting up n hint
receivedin Pals, he passed through Denmark
into Norway. Near the coast where the main
staple OF food was dried fish and salt meats,
he visited a laZaretto. It's inmates were i'm
INJURED for life. There was no mistaking the
symptoms. They were suffering from the same
disease as Mrs. Gardner and Mrs Landry. 1t
was leprosy, and was incurable. On his re urn
to Miramieh DR.. Mackey found the scourge
eating into the community like a cancer.
Prompt action was necessary. Mrs. Gardner's
fingers had dropped off at the Joints and her
skin was dry and daky. Mrs. Landry was in
worse condition. Her eyesght was gone and
she exhibited unmis akable syptoms of elc.
phantiass. The young ply stefan sounded the
alarm. The interest of the Oldest practi-
TONERS was aroused. Une or two scoffed at
the idea of leprosy, and asserted that the dis
ease would yield to remedies employed in
scroful lis and similar complaints Their ex-
periments, however, verified The young doc
tors discovery, and the community was
thoroughly startled. There we're seyenty-eight
cases in one section in year. The Provincial
Parliament was spurred to action under per-
BODal appeals oil he mem berS from Miramchi
A bill establishing lazaretto was passed
Shel1drake Island, dotting bay on the moth
east coast Of the Province, was the spot Sc
lected. II was an isolated island off all lines
of travel. Here buildings were erected, with
barred windows. strict search for all tainted
with leprosy was made, and they were confined
on this island. Scores of the unfortunate
wfetches were captured The lazaretto was
under The charge of two men, who seemed to
DC utStlIuie VI hti lctllllS. NO care was given
the lepers. They we're mostly ignorant French
Canadians, who had eked out living by cul-
tvating the thin soil and by fishing. Gle nil
ness not virtue. They were neither
bathed nor deted Clean underclo hing was
distributed thrice a year. The most abiect
and squalid never removed their clothing, but
drew the clean shirts over the old ones at each
distribution. The sexes were not separated
The lazaretto was virtual prison forlife. It's
inma'es rotted like murrained sheep. 1t was
hob oft ha aHi ar;eI nr
ally poor wretch escaped appealed to
those outside for protection Every face was
turned from him. He desecrated everything
that he touched, Even the fence that he leaned
against while telling mis- ptiful story was
contaminated. Ii he drank from spring the
spring was poisoned. If a cup of milk was
given him the cup was broken as soon as
drained. walking upas tree, freighting the
atmosphere with its poison would not have
been regarded with more horror. He WAS
either recaptured or driven back to the laza-
retto by hunger. Worse than all this, lepers
in whemthe seeds of the disease were fructify-
ing, were concealed by friends and relatives
The lazaretto was regarded as more of prison
than hospital A commitment dsgraced
family far more than comm ment to the
penitentiary. Fathers and mothers endan-
gered themselves and their families in the
effort to shield favorite son or daughter 1t
was disgrace to be hidden, and not to be
made public.
The Iazaretto was removed to Tracadie, on
the bay OF that name, about 1910. Here the
treatment of the unfortunates was a little
better, but there was an utter lack of cleanli-
ness until fourteen years ago, when the Sisters
OF Mercy took sole charge. They found the
inmates dying in filth and misery. They in
augurated new treatment. They tore out the
iron bars from the windows. The lepers were
bathed each day and their ulcers were care
fully dressed. The Dandages were washed and
the clothes of the unfortunates were kept
scrupuouslessly neat and clean. They were
allowed the freedom of the grounds. The
sexes were separated. Rations of tobacco
were given to the men. A sail boat was
bought and parties of the lepers were allowed
to 60 sailing and fishing. Nor was the body
alone entertained The Sisters administered
to the mind The lepars no longer brooded
day and night over their unfortunate condi-
ton. Some of their number played the violin
and they danced toits music. sure death
was thus robbed of some of its terrors. When
the provinces. were confederated in the Do
minion OF Canada the lazaretto passed under
the co rtroi, of the Federal Government. The
Sisters, b. yever, remained in charge, receiv-
ing ME .rabe pttance from the Government
for the.r labors. The rigor of the law was
softencd BY FIR. Joseph A.SRabinea,l, pastor of
the little Catholic Church at Tracadie. When
eases of leprosy were reported he visited the
afflicted and prepared their minds for the in
evitahle. They usually entered the lazaretto
with resignation and submitted to their fate
without murmur Where the good fathers
efforts failed the strong arm of the law was
invoked, and they we5e seized like criminals
and imprisoned for life. Their discomfort was
softened by the kindness OF the Sisters and
they dropped into the grave hopeful of a bet
ter world to come.
AyIsn TO THE BEPER COLONY.
Tracadie can only be reached oy ffty-fve
mile drive from the Newcastle Station on the
Railroad between Halifax and Quebec A
gentlem III who recently made visit to the
place furnishes u most graphic and touching
picture Of the melancholy sights which he wit
messed. The visitor, accompanied by friend
was taken in charge by French Catholic
priest who In urnintroduced them to Sister
Of Mercy who vas in charge OF the lepers.
After describing the little chapel the visi or
goes on TO say that Che cemetery allotted to
the aniortunates lies in the shade OF the IN
painted church. 1t is overgrown with shrub
berry and brambles. A large. weather beaten
cross stands in the center, stretching its arms
over the unmarked graves. We Knocked at
the door Of the parsonage. FIR Babineau was
in the vestry. dressing for mass. He was
summoned by an attendant, and gave us a
gracious reception. With extreme courtesy
ne accompanied us tc the lazaretto. leaving
his asaia,inf, FIR. Nugent, Jolly faced Irish