New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-25
1EpERs AT THE CHARITY HOSPITAL.

r,,r I.pcrsr N1,yBER OF CASES EVER on BLACK
wrrr,s 1srASD-DR PIFFARD ON THE DIS
EASE.
There are now four well-marked cases of leprosy
at the Charity Hospital on Backwers i Siste the
iazar ward and Dr. H. G, Piffard delivered clinical
lecture on this disease. All Of the patients tneTe are
suffering from the least dangerous variety Oh
T gbpl0 are several forms Of the disease but all the
cases at Charity Hospital are OF the tubereu,ar
variety, which is characterized by large nodn,aT
and limbs. One of the patients is Peter Anderson,
native of Norway. whohas suffered from lepresy
for seven years 1t began as small brown spot on
the right wrist, winch spread until now his
whole body shows the fearful ravages of
the disease. HIS family history shows an in
herited tendency to the disease. which first APP
peared when he was in Iowa. James Evans,
twenty-one years of age, was born in the West In
dies. He is of athletic build, aud, aside from the
eruption, shows little constltutionai Impairment.
His forehead and arms are covered by the purple
nodules which are only seen In leprOsv He has
been in the hospital since 1850, and,
though there is no real Improvement his condition
is no worse than on his arrival Adolph Miller,
who is lab1nng under some other chrome affection,
presents pItiable appearance. lie was born IN the
West Indies, and has no heredialy tendency to
spot on his right thigh, which spread ana en-
larged until it presented the unmistakable
appearance of eprGy us n iace o ana SIre oHay
wheals. Owney Johnson, a Chinaman, was brought
TO California when he was child. Three years ago
the dark spots appeared and his face now presents
swollen scanned and livid appearance. Aside from
some fe " brownish spots on his back, the disease
has confined its ravages TO his lace. This is not the
form of leprosy which attacks, by preference. the
hands and feet often producing disabled limbs and
horrible deformity.
DR. Pifard said there was no doubt but that the
disease was spreading and that, to certain extent
IL was contagious 1t was OF the utmost importance
TO Isolate cases and means should bc taken at
once 10 prevent the spread of disease disastrous
in itself and 40 little amenaOe to medical science.
I'm the Sandwich Islands, of the who.e population,
one IN ten was leper. In all countries where the
disease was ureya lent isolation was enforced IN all
cases I'm speaking of the treatment of leprosy DIR.
pIfTard continued thus far nothing has been dis
covered which promises more than relief. There
are eases i'm which persons fer
recover as 10 return 10 the world and resume
their OCCUPATIONS, but know of no case of actual
recovery, The disease may be latent for years. aud
think the spina cord is first affected the eruption
heing secondary In the diseased nerves To say that
enrosv il invariably fatal III few years, Is absurd;
patients may live twenty or even thity years VINO
have il IN the m;llcr FORM
There have never UCcn 50 many cases or tlie us
ease lcfore ut Charity Hospital, though
for the last ten years there has been always one or
two IN tine laZar ward. new remedy II now being
tried with very gratifying results, especially so IN
the worst case, THAI of Peter Anderson. IL IS OF
Eastern origin and is called chaumoogra oil, and Is
used buta internally aud externally.