Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-02-01
THE HORRORS OF LEPROSY.

THE HORRORS OF LEPROSY.
Heart-RendIng Scenes in, the New
BrunsVVick Observation-Disclosures
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
1ar-oH islands where the contagion is believed
to have originated. Half century ago man
named Gardner, Scotchman aud resident
of the little town of Miramichi, saw fawn-
colored spot on his wife's forehead. Anon
there was ominous swellings at the corners of
her eyes. The fawn-colored spots were doubled
and quadrupled. The husband sought the
advice OF DR.. Mackey, young medical gradu-
ate. This physician made a careful study If
the disease. 1t batfied his skill. So engrOssed
was he in its stHdY 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 Mrs. Landry
living seventy-hve miles from Mramichi. OF
French extraction, she was in no way related
TO Mrs. Gardner. FaWn colOred spots appeared
upon her body. Her skin became as transpar-
ent and as scaly as isinglass. The contraction
OF the fingers and the ominous 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 a hint
received in Paris, he passed through Denmark
into Norway. Near the coast, where the main
staple OF food was dried fish and salt meats,
he visited laZaretto. It's inmates were inn
INJURED for life. There was no installing the
symptoms. They were suffering from the same
disease as Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Landry. 1t
was leprosy and was incurable. On his return
to Miramichi 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
and La in
worse condition. Her eyesight was gone, and
she exhibited unmfs akable syptoms of ele-
phantiasis: The young physician sounded the
alarm. The interest of the Oldest practi-
TONERS was aroused. One or two scoffed at
the idea of leprosy, and asserted that the dis
ease would yield to remedies employed in
scroful us and similar complaints. Their ex-
per1mentS, however, verified the young doc
tors discovery, and the community was
thoroughly startled. There were seYenty-eight
cases in one section In year. The Provincial
Parliament was spurred to action under per-
Bonal appeals OF he members from Miramichi.
A bill establishing lazaretto was passed.
Shelldrake Island, dotting bay on the north
east, coast Of the Province, was the spot Sc
q lected. 1t was an isolated island off all lines
of travel. Here buildings were erected, with
barred windows. A strict search for all tainted
with leprosy was made, and they were confined
on this island. Scores OF the unfortunate
wretches were captured. The laZaPetto was
under the charge of two men, who seemed to
be destitute of all feeling. No care was given
the lepers. They were mostly ignorant French
Canadians, who had eked out living by Gull
tivating the thin soil and by fishing. Gle mil
ness was not virtue. They were neither
bathed nor dieted. Clean underclol hing was
distributed thrice 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 orlife. It's
inma es rotted like murrained sheep. 1t was
the horror of the adjacent parishes. Occasion
ally poor wretch escaped AID 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- pitiful story was
contaminated. II he drank from spring the
spring was poisoned. If cup of milk was
given him the cup was broken as soon as
drained. A 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 whom the seeds of the disease were iructifv-
ing, were concealed by friends and relatives.
The lazaretto was regarded as more of a prison
than hospital. commitment disgraced a
family far more than commitment to the
penitentiary Fathers and mothers endan-
gered themselves and their families in the
effort to shield a favorite son or daughter. It
was disgrace to be hidden, and not to be
made public.
The lazaretto 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 bandages were washed and
the clothes of the unfortunates were kept
scrupulouslessly 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 Iepers were allowed
to go sailing and fishing. Nor was the body
alone entertained. The Sisters administered
to the mind. The lepers no longer brooded
day and night over their unfortunate condi-
ton. Some of their number played the violin
and they danced to its music. A 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 control OF the Federal Government. The
Sisters, however, remained IN charge, receiv-
ing a miserable pittance from the Government
for their labors. The rigor of the law was
softened by FIR. Joseph A. Babineau, pastor of
the little Catholic Church at Tracadie. When
cases of leprosy were reported ne visited the
evitable. 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 were seized like criminals
and imprisoned for life. Their discomfort was
softened by the kindness Of the Sisters, and
they dropped into the grave hoPeIul OF bet
ter world to come.
A'vIsIr TO THE LEPER COLONY.
Tracadie can only be reached by a ffty-6ve
mile drive from the Newcastle Station on the
Railroad between Halifax and Quebec. A
gentleman who recently made visit to the
place furnishes 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 turn introduced them to Sister
of Mercy who was in charge of the lepers.
After describing the little chapel the visi or
goes on to say that the cemetery allotted to
the unfortunates lies in the shade of the un-
painted church. It 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. F. Babineau was
in the vestry, dressing for mass. He was
summoned by an attendant, and gave us
gracious reception. With extreme courtesy
he accompanied as to the lazsretto, leaving
his assistant FIR. NugeDt, a jollY-faced Irish
man to chant mass. AS we crossed q rustic
foot-bridge near the lazaretto We heard the
plaintive notes of a violin. The melody was
sad and sweet, blending of the Canadian
Boat Song'' and annie Laurie" The musi-
clan was a leper Willing away the weary