The Indianapolis journal., 1883-04-20
A LEPER In PHILADELPHIA.
Doctors in Consultation Oyer the Vic
tim.
A Wealthy Honolulu Planter at the
Hospital.
at the /
Discovers for the First Time His Awfu
Condition.


ing address presented himself to the most emf
nent surgeon in America, Dr. Samuel D. Gross,
of Philadelphia, having letters of introduction
from two physicians of the Sandwich Islands.
The man was well dressed, and evidently accus-
toned TO good society, bat, Notwithstanding
these advantages, the impression produced by
his appearance was not agreeable The skin of
his face was of dirty, sallow color, and oily and
shiny. His eyes were heavy, the lids dropping
and aabby, and his nose dark red in
color. The evidences of premature
old age were too strongly stamped upon him to
be mistaken. AS a matter of fact, although he
did not suspect it-tbis man was that most horri-
BILE of human beings, victim of the dreaded
d1sease of the tropics, scaly leprosy The letters
of Introduction he bore were sealed They in
formed DR.. 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 the best medical
advice. The unfortunate victim is gentleman
Of education, the son of American parents, who
emgrated from New Hampshire to Honolulu,
where he was born thirty-fOur years ago. DR..
Gross after careful examlnation OF the case, re-
fefred the patient TO DR.. John V. Shoemaker, and
the unfortunate was taken to the hospital for
skin disease, on Locust street. Here he told the
story of his life He is planter of ample
wealth, whose early manhood and much of his
fortune 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 sensible of decided loss
OF health, and he now recalls fact to which he
paid no attention at the time. dead spot of
Skin was beginning to make it's appearance just
above his Knee Six months later, when he mad
almost forgotten. his former lndisposition. he
married native lady of Honolulu, who was a
woman in vigorous health.
Within year weak, puny child was born,
which lived buJ>a few weeks. In the meantime
the spot of dead skin began to grow larger and
hisfingers and toes became verysensitve. Sharp,
shooting pains ran through them. Within a year,
however, the pain was succeeded by sensation
OF deadness in his extrenlties, and he was
scarcely able TO distinguish solid substances.
This was followed by the appearance OF bhsters
OH 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.
ellis hands and toes have no sensation, and
when needles were stuck into his extremities by
superintendent f. g. Waterman the patient said
he did not feel them. In short, the case was
found to be well-defined lepr0sy, which had be-
gun in the anasthetic form and gradually passed
into the more dreadful stages of the disease. DIR.
Shoemaker prescribed remedies to tone up the
digestive organs, and solutions to apply locally
eupy his mind as much as possible, was especial
ly urged In three days the patient returned to
the hospital looking somewhat brighter, but that
was all. Dr. Shoemaker invited a number of
physicians and some Of the students of tine hos
pital to examine the unfortunate man. Only a
few responded. Init among them were ID. s. Sut-
ton, of MendOp, Pa; DR., c. Young, of Chicago;
D. Frederick de Craft, OF Germany, and d. f. E.
Stewart, of Philadelphia. 1t was explained to
those present that the disease, according to the
latest and best medical authorities, is not con-
tagious except by inoculation.
"The result of the consultation was not favor
able. 1t was agreed that the disease by proper
hygienic measures, might be alleviated, but not
cured Dr. Shoemaker then advised his patient
to seek some agricultural district, In a cold re-
giOn in Minnesota or the mountains of Switzer-
land, to keep his mind and body both employed.
With this advice he was asked to call again IN
two days. The man listened to what was said to
him as one who hears the sentence of his doom.
He trembled and gasped for breath. For the
first time he learned that his to be fate
worse than death. His emotions overcame him,
and burying his head In his hands he sat for a
long time as If striving to shut out the terrible
truth, When he had regained sufficient cOmpo-
sure, he SAID that he had Idea that he was
Honolulu he had every hope of being
cured. The thought that he was to be
an outcast from society, that he was
cursed with the most l0athesome Of diseases,
that he to be hunted down for isolation, ap-
peared almost to have overtoppled his reason.
He cried out that he now only wished to die; no
reasoning had the slightest effect up0n his ex-
cited condition. Finally, he went away. The
next day he returned TO the hospital, nervous,
gloomy, Frustrated. He begged that his condi-
ton would be kept secret. Every moment he
would glance around, as If fearing he would be
down for ISOLATION At last he consented to
start hurried trip through the country to
divert his mind and make arrangements to
change his place of residence. He left the city
two days ago.
"Before his departure he visited the hospital,
and, as if in distraction, made most extravagant
offers for such treatment as might him; he
said that no tee would be too large II the awful
disease could be erad!caIed. He offered TO give
his fortune to the last penny for an assurance
of restoration to health but he as told that it
was impossible" ... ..l
Since the above was written the most search
ing inquiries have failed TO discover the where
abouts of this afflicted person, and fears are en-
tertained that he has made away with himself.
Considerable feeling has been manifested by the
more liberal of our physicians familiar with the
case because thorough trial was not made of
the Cuticura remedies which have cured SO
many cases of leprOsy, both in Europe and this
country, well as other severe forms of skin
and blood humors. All agreed that no harm
could come OF trial, and could see no difference
between the symptoms in this case and those of
H. E. Carpenter, Henderson, N. Y, who was
promptly and permanently cured by the Cntl-
cura remedies, and whose disease, reported In
his own words, presented even more distressing
features than that of the Honolulu planter Mr..
Carpenters statement is as follows:
az have been afflicted for twenty years with
an obstinate skin disease called leprosy, com
mencing on my scalp and, In spite of all |
could do, with the help of the most skillful
doctors. it slowly but surely extended.
until year ago this winter it covered
my entire person in form of dry scales.
For the last three years have been unable TO
do any labor, and suffered intensely all the
time. Every morning there could be nearly
dustpanful of scales taken from the sheet on my
bed, some of them half as large as the envelope
containing this letter. In the latter part of the
spring my skin commenced cracking open. |
tried everything. almJst tnat could be thought
of, without any relief. The 18th of June
started West in hopes could reach the Hot
Springs. l reached Detroit, and was so low I
thought I should have to go to the hospital. but
finally got as far rs Lansing, Mich. where | had
sister living. One Dr. ---- treated me
about two weeks, but did me no good. Ali
thought had but short time to live. l earn
estly prayed to die. My skin was cracked through
all over my back, across my ribs. arms, hands.
limbs feet badly swollen, toe nails came off,
fingernails dead and hard rs bone, hair dead.
dry and lifeless old straw. o. my God! now L
did suffer-
"My sister, Mrs E. ii, Davis, had small part
of a box of Cuticura in the house. She wouldn't
give up: said We will try Cuticura.' Some was
applied on one hand and arm Eureka! there
was relief; stopped the terrible burning sensa-
tion from the word go. They Immediately got
the Resolvent. Cuticura and SOap. COM
menced by taking one tablespoonful or Resol-
vent three times day, after meals; had a bath