The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-25
A LEPER IN PHILADELPHIA.
Doctors in Consultation Over the
Victim.
A Wealthy Honolulu Planter at the
Hospital
Discovers for the First Time BIS Awful
Condition.
IPhiladelphia Recorci I

! AHVSt enhiheht surgeon IN America, DR.. Sam
uel ID. Gross, of Philadelphia, having letters
OF introduction from two physicians of the
Sandwich Islands. The man was we'll
dressed, and evidently accustomed to good
society, but, Notwithstanding these ad-
vantages, the impression produced by his
appearance was not agreeable The skin of
/ mis- face was of dirty, sallow color, and oily
and shiny. His eyes were heavy,
the lids dropping and fiabby, and his nose
dark red in color. The evidences of a prem
allure old age were too strongly stamped
upon him to be mistaken. AS a matter of
fact-although he did not suspect it-thIs
man was that most horrible of human
beings, victim of the dreaded disease of
the tropics, scaly leprosy. The letters of in
PRODUCTION be bore were sealed. They in
formed De. Gross that the patient, in the
opinion of the doctors of Honolulu. from
whence he came, was leper. As they did
not regard the disease as contagious, they
had advised him to visit the United States
and seek thesbest medical advice. The un-
fortunate victim is gentleman of education,
the son OF American parents, who emigrated
from New Hampshire to Honolulu,
where he was born thirty-four wears
ago. DR.. Gross, after careful examination
of the case, referred the patient to DR.. John
| Y. Shoemaker, and the unfortunate was
| taken to the Hospital for skin disease on
Locust street. Here he told the story of his
| life. He was planter of ample wealth,
whose early manhood and much of his for
tune were spent in excessive dissipation. He
| led merry life for some years, especially
among the women of easy virtue on the
| island. Eight years ago he became sensi-
bic of decided loss of health, and he now
recalls q fact to which he paid no attention
at the time. A dead spot of skin was begin
ming to make its appearance just above his
knee. Six months later, when be had
almost forgotten his former indisposition, ne
married native lady of Honolulu, who was
a woman in vigorous health.
Within year a weak, punv child was
born, which lived but few weeks. In the
meantime the spot Of dead skin began to
grow larger, ana his fingers and toes became
very sensitive. Sharp, shooting pains ran
through them. Within year, however, the
pain was succeeded by a sensation of dead
ness in his extremities, and he was scarcely
able to distinguish solld substances. This
! was followed by the appearance of blisters
on his fingers and toes. Medical treatment
failed to check the disease, and his presence
in Philadelphia is the result. His condition
now is horrible to contemplate.
His hands and toes have no sensation,
tremities by Superintendent +. G. Waterman,
the patient said he did not feel them. In
Short the case was found to be well-defined
leprosy, which had begun in the anasthetic
8 form and gradually passed into the more
dreadful stages of the disease. DR.. Shoe
. maker prescribed remedies to tone up the
: digestive organs, aud solutions to apply To-
: cally to the spots affected. Outdoor exer-
: else to occupy his mind as much as possible.
: was especially urged. In three days the
: patient returned to the Hospital looking
: somewhat brighter, but that was all. DR..
: Shoemaker invited q number of physicions
: and some of the students of the Hospital to
examine the unfortunate man. Only few
,, responded, but among them were ID. S. SUIT
: ton, of Mendon, Pa; DIR. G. Young, of Chi
{ cago; ID. Frederick de Craft, of Germany
and d. +. E. Stewart, of Philadelphia. 1t
was explained to those present that the dis
I ease, according TO the latest and best medi-
cal authorities, is not contagious, except by
I incubation.
''The result of the consultation was not
favorable. 1t was agreed that the disease,
= by proper hygiene measure. might be al
= leviated, but not cured. DR.. Shoemaker
: then advised his patient to seek some agri-
: cultural district, in a cold region in MINI
4 esota or the mountains of Switzerland, to
{ keen his mind and body both employed
L With this advice he was asked to cali sgain
: in two days The man listened to what was
e said to him as one who hears the sentence
e of bis doom. He trembled, and gasped fol-
: breath. For the frat time he learned that
e his was to be fate worse than death. Hi:
G emotions overcame him, and burying hi
II head in his hands he sat for long time q.
e if striving 10 shut out the terrible truth
y When he had regained sufficient composure
If he said that he had no idea that he was suffer
o ing from leprosy. All the way from Honol1lr
d be had every hope of being cured. The
is thought that he was to be an ontcast from
IT society, that he was cursed with the mos
= loathsome of diseases. that he was to b'
hunted down for isolation, appeared almos
10 have over-tcppled his reason. He crIeC
out that he now only wished to die; no rea
soning mad the slightest effect upon his ex
cited condition; finally ne went away. Th,
n next day he returned to the Hos
pital, nervous, gloomy, Frustrated; ht
begged that his condition would be KEEP
70 secret. Every moment he would glancl
d around, as If fearing he would be seized
a down for isolation" At last he consented
a try, to divert his mind, and make arrange
"A ments to change his place OF residence H,
left the city two days ago.
40 Before his departure he visited the Hos
pital, and, as if lin distraction, made mos
" extravagant offers for such treatment a
| lulSub CuIc n6 Sdlu blldb uO lco WOul'
;. be too large if the awful disease could b
eradicated. He offered to give mis- forum
10 to the last penny, for an assurance of a resto
y ration to health, but he was told that it wa
ia impossible"
Since the above was written, the mos
a searching inquiries have failed to discove
a the whereabouts of this afflicted person, an,
N fears are entertained that he has made wa,
with himself. Considerable feeling has bee
n manifested by the more liberal of our ply
n sicians familiar with the case, because
m thorough trial was not made of the Cuticur
ar remedies, which have cured SO many case
OF leprosy, both in Europe and this country
n as well as other severe forms of skin an
"a blood humors All agreed that no harm
ss could come of a trial, and could see no dill
q ference between the symptoms in this cas-
N and those of III. e. Carpenter, Henderson
n. Y, who was promptly and permanent
= cured by the Cuticura remedies and who's
W. disease, reported in his own words, presente
:. even more distressing features than that {
-; the Honolulu planter Mr.. Carpenter
N statement is as follows:
=, ~ II have been afflicted for twenty year
90 with an obstinate skin disease, called leprC
M sy. commencing on my scalp; and in spit
of all / could do, with the help of the mo:
skillful doctors, it slowly but surely e,
=, tended, until year ago this winter il CO,
g. cred my entire person in form of dry scale,
For the last three years have been unabl
'e- to do any labor. and suffered intensely a
ne the time. Every morning there could b
ooini nearly dustpanfuli of scales taken fror