National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-28
LEPRosY IN MINNESOTA.
Physicians Find Several Unmlstakable Cases
in Yellow Medicine County--Tho Nature Of

Physicians Find Several Unmlstskable Cases
In Yellow Medicine County--Tho Nature Of
the Disease.
ST. PAUL, Aug. o7.--On Saturday last Or.
stoddard, Of Beaver Falls brought to this city
from Granite Falls in Yellow. Medicine county,
man who was supposed TO DO suffering from
leprosy. Ho has had tho disease for four years
past, and several of his ncighbora havo been
similarly afflicted. consultation OF physi-
clans was held, at which Drs. Larno, Of Apple
ton, and Rogers, Of Montlvedeo, were present.
They wore satisfied that II Is a case OF leprosy.
photographs Of the man were taken, and one
with n history of tho case was sent to Prof
phifilard, Of New York. Dr. Stoddard visited
a man living In Sanncs, who has had the dis.
case so long that his fingers have fallen of and
he Is reduced TO n nero skeleton. There "
another case In Stony Run, making three In al
within radius Of ten miles Of Granite.
Dr. ]. II. johnson, OF this city, thinks tho
probability Is that the ancients and those Of
the middle ages classod every severe disease
of the skin with and as leprosy, but this was n
mistake, and modern medicine no says, now
recognizes IL as distinct disease, and aCCu.
| fately separates IL from other cutaneou8 mala-
dies with which II had been for such long
period associated and COMPOUNDED. IL occurs
| principally In warm climates and never APP
| pears, as n rule, except among those whose
systems have been reduced to a sickly condt
ton BY poverty, filth and badly lighted ana
ventilated habitations, and is therefore, al
ways disease Of d depressed vitality and i'm
| poverished blood, superinduced by q pre-
| carious and improper diet, want Of bodily
cleanliness, and The impure air Of small and
badly lighted habilations. ttissow in its dovcl.
| opment obstinate In its progress and inveterate
/ In its nature, continuing AS nonitChinR and
painless scaly disease Of the skin, not only foI
/ years, but sometimes for lifetime. and
| unless relieved by prOupr treatment tho
patient finally dies, not nom lep.
rosy, but from the deblitated condi.
tion OF the general system Tho disease IA not
accompanied with that degree OF loathsome'
ness which ancient conduct toward the NAL
ady taught the popular mind TO associate with
| the name OF leprosy. II IS not attended with
much itching and is without pain, and con-
sists of n minute eruption, frst attacking tho
knee, ankle, and elbow joints and amer u day
or two this minute eruption breaks and dries
into thin, small white scales eilyery In appear.
parts without either presenting or making
| much Of a sore place or spot The invasion OF
this disease Is not known 10 the patient by
either fever or pain, but simply gives 70 his
condition readily enables the intelligent ply
stefan 20 diagnose this disease from all other
diseases of the skin. As uncOmplicatod lop
rosy II never dcgenerates into sores; and
when II Is accompanied by sores upor
tho body, such sores arc not tho resu
of the leprOsy, but of some other poison
OF the blood complicating 1t. IL ~
tacks all ages, and seldom extends bcyont
the ankle, knee, and elbow joints, but occa
| sionally IL invades the whole body, impartinl
to the skin rough, silvery. whitc appearance
! Lcprosy Is entirely non.contagious, and can
not be communicated by either contact will
lepers or by incubation with tho lcprous scales
Therefore the popular fear OF catching lcpros!
is unfOundcd and imaginary. II Is u peculiar
saly disease of the skin that may possibly at
tick healthy person, but Its more numorou
victims are or those whose health has beer
\ impaired by bad diet bad air, and bad habita
| lions. IL is not uncommon disease In the Unite
States, but when 1t occurs in this climate IL |
known and treated by the most scientih
specialists under the name of psoriasis.