Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-26
UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN !!
The Great Number Of Cases of Lsp
rosy in New York
NOT BROUGHT HERE BY cHlNAMEN.
A Few Cases Among the Chinese, bui Care
fully Guarded-Wealthy lepers Who
Came Here to Spread the
Loathsome Disease.

NEw York, April 25.-The presence OF a
considerable number OF Chinese in New
York, coupled with the fact that wherever
that race has obtained a foothold leprosy
has been engrafted among the population,
caused q reporter TO arrive at the convic-
ton that leprosy must exist in this city.
His investigations revealed the fact that
this most frightful Of all diseases is spread
ing among US, although unsuspected by
the authorities and the medical fraternity
generally.
After an unsuccessful inquiry at the
Health Office, the reporter sailed forth
into the byways of Chinatown and searched
indefatigably for lepers, who, he felt conf.
dent, we're hidden away in black holes and
out-of.the-way corners. Leprosy might ex-
ist for years within the heart OF the town,
unsuspected by the authorities, for even
skilled physicians are not acquainted with
its symptoms, and the Chinese jeslously
guard their sick. They know that in San
Francisco the leper is dragged ruthlessly
from his home and shut up in lszar house
or shipped back to China, the latter being
tantamOunt to signing the
Poor Fellows Death Warrant.
Accustomed to conceal their epers in
California, they pursue a similar course
here. 1t is consequently matter OF great
difficulty TO ferret out the disease. One
after another opium dens and gambling
hells were visited, all to no purpose. "No
Sabe' was the answer to every interroga-
ton. Sometimes the mo sabe' was ac-
companed By black sCowls and threaten.
ing demeanor The few white residents in
the quarter asserted that a number OF Chi
namen with the unmistakable marks OF
leprosy on their faces were frequently seen
after nightfall upon the streets, but no one
knew in which one OF the dives they found
an asylum.
Information furnished by leading derma-
toogists induced the reporter to inspect
the hospitals under the care OF the Com
missioners of Public Charities and COrrec.
ton. At the Charity Hospital on Blacks
wells Island his search was successful.
Two lepers were found in the skin ward,
which is under the immediate charge OF
Drs. II. G. Piilard and +. r. Sturgis mem.
bers of the Dermatologcal Society. Policy
| has induced the physician in charge OF
| the hospital 10 keep the presence of
| leprous patients profound secret from all
| but few practitioners. Two more hope.
| less human beings it would be Impossible
| TO imagine than are these lepers on Black
wells Island The younger OF the two is
| Charles Evans. He is n years OF age, was
| born in Maryland, and lived in the Ber.
mudas, where he is supposed to have con-
tracted the disease. EVr two years he has
| been
| Hopeless Invalid
| in the Charity Hospital. All that medical
| skill can do for the poor fellow has been
| done but TO no purpose. lie finds himself
| sinking day by day. lie is sturdily built
| young man, and is said TO have been pre-
possessing in appearance formerly; but
now great tubercles on his lOrehad and the
swelling Of his cheeks give him feroclous,
| leonine expression. lie IS an intelligent
man. and as yet the disease has not serious.
| ly affected his mind. His youth and
| strength have thus far stood him IN good
| stead, staving off for a time the fearful end
His companion in misery is Peter Ander-
| son, a Norwegian, % years OF age. lie
| came TO America in early youth, and had
| never suffered from any sickness except
| measles and mumps. But he was from a
| leprous family, and seven years ago the
dark spots made their appearance upon his
| knees and elbows. Another such pltiiul
| spectacle as these two lepers, the stronger
leading the more feeble blinded NOrwe'
| gian, one would hope never TO see.
| Nv
| in misery The first was Charles Henk!e:
an aged German, Il years OF age. lie had
| lived in Mexico, where he contracted the
| disease late in life. He died on the - of
November. lsSl. at BlaCkwell's Island. His
case was considered very remarkable on
account of his advanced years. Following
| Henkle were two Japanese lcpers and a
| Chinaman. About two months ago SacEl
Chi Niskawa was in the Charity Hospital.
lie had been employed by the Iegeve Com
pany OF IL Liberty street one day his
friend Boro Masa OF the Umnti Trading
| Company. Mercer street, noticed a spot
| on SaCkichI's forehead. He ascertalned
| that Sackichi had other spots upon hls
| body. and that his fingers were drawn up
rs if with paralysis. Then he
Ereathed His snspIcions
10 his friend. Sackchi wanted u make an
end Of himself, and was with difficulty re.
| strained. In his case the disease spreal
rapidly. He was examined by the phySi.
clan OF the New York Hospital pronounced
lerrous, and sent to the Charity Hospital
nm Blackwe!l's Island, where he remained
some time, only leaving upon his return 10
Jspau, where he now is. Sackichi was al
educated japanese, who read and talked IN
telligently on many subjects.
~. Chinaman, whose name could not
4ne was afflicted with very Sc
vere ye a'T variety Of di.srse' lie could PICK up
rsdbot ron with his hand. withont ieeiin
main. This wa. also one Of the leper Hen
kle, characteristics. He had been kr6rn
to pick up hot metal "lth0ut knowing
it until he perceived that 5!s mesh was
scared.
Are Aere many cases OF leprosy in New
York" ". asked Dr. Seaman.
s'Tbara how many ! cannot
tell" answered the doctor. while a
Ihysician in the Emigrants' Hospital on
! Nart's Island had four cases at various
! times. ] should think about three cases a
wear are admitted TO the Charity Hospital.
They die or 20 away OF their own accord (;
We are powerless to keep them
is leprosy increasing in the United
| States, and especially in New York
"Most certainly; and think the lime is
not far distant when the lepers will be con-
| fined in some place
4 day or two later the reporter learned
that
| Another Leper
had been admitted TO the hospital, and
| msde another visit there. Half a dozen
| men were PLAYING cards in the skin ward.
| One OF them was Evans, the leper. At the
| end of the room sat the des pondent Ander-
| SON. He had been improving. but bad
| been set back again by the appearance oi
the new patient, Adolph Miller, who lay
| between saffron sheets, his head ON a saf-
ron pillow. Miller is Dane, % years old.
| Two years ago he came here from Christian
sted. ST. Croix. He is printer by trade.
Since coming here he has lived in Watts
street. About nine months ago the fatal
| spots made their appearance. He grew
| rapidly worse, could get no work, and
! finally on the 1ith Of this month, when ad-
mit:ed to the Charity Hospital, was in a
dying condition.
Are you not afraid that the other pa.
tiepts will contract leprosy from these lep-
ers?" ssked the reporter.
1T would be well 10 have them segrega-
ted" replied the physician. But l
| haven't much faith In the contsgiousness
| Of The disease Thee patients do not fear
it. We never allow others to use the bed
ding OF lepers, and for that reason, as you
zee. We dye the bedc!othes saforn."
A,.;o a. tbol srpiratinn nj nearly a