The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-23
A VISIT TO THE LEPERs.
Grmcorum In the Charity
Hospital

Elephantiasis Grmcorum In the Charity
Hospital
The pier at the foot OF East Twenty. sixth
street, belonging to the commissioners of
charities and correction, presented an ami
mated scene this morning as the commits
sioners' steam launch. Minhehannock, pre-.
pared to start for the islands. 1t was
crowded with people, chiefly women, who
we're going to see their frienus in the hos
pitfalls, jail, asylums and other institutions,
and most Of them carried baskets or par.
cells containing little luxuries for the sick,
the insane and the prisoners, who despite
their iDfirmities or their crimes, were still
dear to their faithful hearts.
landing, which is that of the Charity hos.
pital The big pile of dark stone was COM
pleted in 1870 and to II are sent chronic
cases and the overflow from the hospitals of
the city. 1t contained on Saturday $50 pa.
patients, and the reporter actually shiyered
as he thought of the terrible total of hope.
less human misery and suffering repre-.
scented by those figures.
The object of the reporters visit was to
make inquiry concerning the cases of lepro-
sy at present in the hospital, and accord
ingly he entered the office and made known
his wish to the courteous official, who sent
for the doctor in charge OF the leprosy
ward. The physician at once expressed his
readiness to afford every information and
invited the reporter to visit the patients.
The ward in which they are is large aud
airy, and, like all the other wards in the
no 'pi.al is furnished with rong iron doors
to prevent the spreading OF acontlagration
81, ~ fnr n N a DIV In tlura
CHINESE LEPER.
The patients, of whom there are at pres.
ent five, were all up and dressed, and,
with one exception, were all able to move
about. The doctor and the reporter sat
down at table, and the orderly was re-
ouested to tell All Wan that his presence
was desired. All Wan brought over his
stool and sat down before the doctor. His
swelled face and little, restless eyes wore
comca expression that would bave been
lauphable but for the remembrance of the
terrible misfortune with which the poor
fellow is afflicted.
We'll Wan" said the doctor, chow do
you feel?'
"Me vellv good to-day, sa," replied Wan,
with sickly smile.
ne, us see your legs?" said the doctor,
and Wan took of his shoes and stockings
anu TOlleu MS tIuuctlo uP w MS hhVc, iils
legs were purple, or puce, and covered with
silyery scales. The doctor took pin and
inserted it in the flesh al different places.
AT one or two insertions Wan WINGED
slightly and said, "Me painl'' but at the
others he shook his head and declared, "Me
no feell' All VANS is case OF elephan-
tiasis Grmcorum, of the second variety, the
chief features of which are angthesia, or
want of feeling, discoloratlon of the skin,
atrophy of the muscles and liberation and
mutilation of the hands and feet. Wan
has only been an inmate of the hospital for
nine or ten days. There is another Chi
nese patient similarly affected.
The secoad patient examined wasa Nor.
wegian. Six years ago he noticed swell.
Ing and sense Of itching in his tingers, and
soon afterward spot appeared over the
left eyebrow, then one upon the cheekt
finally they appeared al over the body,
peciaily on the face and legs. Then came q
loss of sensation In the region supplied by
the II mar nerve on each side. This is a
r sc OF the first variety OF elephantiasis
f,rm,orum, which Is known as Muscular, or
spotted, and Is distinguished by eruptlons
on the skin, with anWsthesia. The
unhappy mans face Is covered
with ugly red spots and Jumps
like scald .blsters, and he has lost the sight
Of ,he right eye. lie feels no pain and has
mayer complained OF any, but the little fin.
cers of both hands are contracted and parts
Of the epidermis are exfoliating.. The fin.
GERS and hands are hypertrophiedi the right
ave shows q white cloud in the anterior
chamber, which indicates collection OF
nus at that point; there are evidences OF
irltis and conjunctivitis In the lett eye, and
The eve. brows, mustache and beard are en-
TREY gone. .,.,x
The third case of elepbantiasis was that
of an Irishman, and was very remarkable.
The patient is an old man, and he sat In an
arm. chair, clad only in a shirt. His legs
were Swollen TO the thickness OF good
sised holster, bu, the lett lee was consider.
ahIy more enlarged than the right. ms
strange effect Is produced by universal
,bicteninr OF the skin, muscles, nerves, vein
and artery shesths. and the entire SUB
stance of the flesh. There was no discoiora
tion. the limos being hard and smooth 10
The toucn. The patient suffers no pain put
NJ course, extreme Inconvenience ana help
lie .u,ss. ,.,. .,.ii.
,io The sufferers all appear cheerful ana
" on hopeful, although there are no means
lnnwu 10 medical science By which cure
n This fearful disease can be erected.
Cauid some ,elf.tormenting hyposhondriacs