The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-04-19
ALEpBR IN PHILADELPHIA.


most eminent surgeon IN America Dr.
Samuel d. Gross, of Philadelphia, having
letters of introduction from two physicians
of the Sandwich Islands. The man was
we'll dressed, and evidently accustomed 10
good society, but, Notwithstanding these
advantages, the impression produced by
his appearance was not agreeable. Inc
skin of his face was of dirty, salloW color,
and oily and shiny. His eyes were heavy,
the lids dropping and flabby, and his nose
dark red in color. The evidences OF pre-,
mature old age were too strongly stamped
upon him TO be mistaken. AS matter OF
fact-although he did not suspect it-this
man was that most horrible OF human Pc
ipgs, victim of the dreaded dis
ease of the tropics, scaly lep'
ROSY, The letters of introduction
he bore were sealed. They informed DR..
Gross that the patient, in the opinion OF the
doctors of Honolulu, from whence he came,
was a 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 VIC,
tim is gentleman of education, the son OF
American parents, who emlgrateu rom
New Hampshire TO Honolulu, where he
was born thirty -four years ago. DR.. Gross,
after a careful examination OF the case, re-
ferred the patient to DR.. John V. Shoe
maker, 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. lie
led merry life for some years, especially
among the women OF easy virtue on the
island. Eight years ago he became sensible
of a decided loss of health, and he now re-
calls fact to which he paid no attention at
the time. A dead spot of skin was begin
ming to make its appearance just above MS
knee. Six months later, when he had al
most forgotten his former indisposition, he
married a native lady of Honolulu, who
was a woman in vigorous health.
within a year weak, puny child was
born, which lived but few weeks. In the
meantime the spot of dead skin began to
grow larger, and his fingers and toes be-
came very sensitive. Sharp, shooting pains
ran through them. Within year, how
ever, the pain was succeeded by sensation
of deafness in his eXtremit!es, and he was
scarcely able to distinguish solid substances.
This was followed by the appearance OF
blisters on his fingers and toes. Medical
treatment failed to check the disease, ana
his presence in Philadelphia is the result.
His condition now is horrible to contem-
plate.
"Hs hands and toes have no sensation,
and when needles were stuck into his eX-
tremities by Superintendent F. G, Water
man, the patient said he did not feel them.
In short, the case was found to be well-de-
fined leprosy, which had begun in the
anesthetic form and gradually passed
the disease. DR.. Shoemaker prescribed
remedies to tone up the digestive organs,
ana solutions TO apply locally to the spots
affected. Outdoor exercise, to occupy his
mind as much as possible, was especially
urged. In three days the patient returned
to the hospital looking somewhat brighter,
but that was all. DIR. Shoemaker invited
number OF physicians and some of the
students of the hospital to examine the I'M
man. only lew responded, Dut
among them were d. S. Sutton, OF Mendon.
DR.. q. Young, OF Chicago,
ID, Frederick de Craft, of Germany, and d.
II. e, Stewart, of Philadelphia. 1t was ex-
planned to those present that the disease,
according to the latest and best medical
authorities, is not contagious, except by
1.-THE result of the consultation was not
favorable. 1t was agreed that the disease,
by proper hygienic measures, might De
aileyiated, but not cured. DIR. Shoemaker
then advised his patient to seek some agri-
cultural district, in cold region in Mime
sofa or the mountains of Switzerland, to
keep his mind and body both employed.
With this advice he was asked to call ain
in two DAYS. The man listened to what
was said to him as one who hears the SEN
tence of his doom. He trembled, and
gasped for breath. For the first time he
learned that his was TO be a fate worse than
death. His emotions overcame him, and
burying his head in his hands, he sat for a
long time as II striving to shut out the ter
ribie truth. When he had regalned suii-
oient composure, he said that he had no
idea that he was suffering from leprosy.
All the way from Honolulu he had every
hope of being cured. The thought that he
was to be an outcast fiom society, that he
was cursed with the most loathsome OF dis
eases, that he was TO be hunted down Tor
isolation, appeared almost to have over-top'
nle,i his reason. He cried out that he now
only wished TO die; no reasoning had the
slightest effect upon his excited condition
finally, he went away. The next day he re
turned TO the hospital, nervous, gloomy
frustrated; he begged that his condition
would be kept secret. Every moment ht
would glance around, as IL tearing he would
be seIzed, and would repeat mournfully
Hunted down for Isolation At last NJ
consented 10 start on hurried trip tnfougt
the country, to divert his mind, and max,
arrangements TO change his place OF resi-
dencs. He left the city two days ago.
before his departure he visited the hos
pital. and, as If in distraction, made mos
extraysgant offers for such treatment a
might cure him; he said that no Zee woul6
De TOO large il the awful disease could b.
ersdicated. He offered to give his fortuna
to the last penny, Tor an assurance OF
restoration 10 health, but he was told tina
il was impossible"
Since the above was written, the mos
searching inquiries have failed 10 dfscoye
the whereabouts of this afflicted person ant
fears are entertained that be has made wa!
with himself. Considerable feeling ha
been manifested by the more liberal Of on
physicians familiar with the case, oecaue
a thorough trial was not made OF the CUT
cura remedies which have cured 30 man!
cases Of leprosy, both in Europe and thi
country, as well ss other severe forms
kin and blood humors. All agreed tina
no harm could come OF a trial, ana coul'
zee no difference between the symptoms II
this case and those Of II. L. Carpenter
Henderson, New York, who was promptly
and permanently cured by the Cuticur
remedies, and whose disease, reported u
his own words, presented even more ols
tressing features than that Of the Honolulu
planter. Mr.. Carpenters statement Il
iOllows:-
II have been afflicted for twenty year
with an obstinate skin disease, called lep
rosv. commencing on my scalp; and Il
spite of all could do, with the help OF ID
most skillful doctors. Il slowly, bot surei,
extended, until year ago this winter
covered my entire person IN form OF or
scales. For the last three years / have beei
unable 70 DO any labor, and suffered IN
tsrseiy all the time. Every morning Their
would be nearly dustpan full OF scale
taken from the sheet Of my bed, some Q
Them half ss large as the envelope co1ts IN
inc this letter. In the latter part Of III
snring nv skin commenced cracking open
Il tried everything; almost, that couid b
thought Of without any relitL The II,
ID June started west, IN tbe hopes cOult
resch Hot Springs. | fescbed Detroit
and YVES 80 low thought should nese
81 40 the b0spifal, but finally 20 as far a
Ien.fnR. Michigan, Wnere he'd . slstei
LIVING. One DR.. - treated me about ~
weeks. bat he did me no good Al thOugh
I had but . sbort tine 20 I've. i earDe-ti