News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-09-18
LEPROSY IN MEXICO.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE TERRIBLE
ASIATIC sCOURGE.
A Visit to the Hospital where the flclhhs
are Confined Mt san Luzaro'

The leprosy is a disease which Is COM
paratively alien in Anglo-Saxon coun-
tries, there being but three places on
the North American continent where 1t
has obtained a permanent footing-viz.:
Mexico, California and in a suburb OF
Quebec. In the last-named place Its
victims, who number three or four hun
dred, are principally French Canadians
of the lowest class. In San FRANCISCO
the Chinese are the only sufferers, but
in Mexico the disease affects all classes,
rich as we'll as poor, beautiful senorltas
of high birth and proud hidalgos,
blood of CASTLE and Leon, being sub
iect to the horrible distemper. AS soon
as the presence of the disease is ascer-
tanned the victim is removed to q hospi-
tai set apart and maintained at-the pub
lie expense for that purpose, which is
appropriately named st. Lazaro, where
they are confined until released from
their sufferings by death. I have had
special opportunities for observing the
workings of the leprosy in all of its
stages in Mexico, ,.having, through the
influence of a medical friend, been per-
mitted to pay frequent visits to st. La
zaro. The appearance of the unfortu-
nate lepers is loathsome and hideous to
degree that beggars description. 1t
makes its first appearance by scaly erup-
tions on different parts Of the face and
body Of the victim, and these eruptlons
are never perfectly healed. The limbs
of many. and more especially the hands,
at first appear to be drawn and twisted
out of all shape. Gradually the nose
and part OF the feet are carried away,
while the features become distorted and
hideous. The voice assumes, at times,
| a husky and unnatural tone, and again
the doomed patient is unable to articu-
late except in a shrill, piping treble.
With many, when near the last stages,
all powers of speech are lost, and vainly
do they endeaYor to make known theil
wants by sounds. Death steps in al
last to relieve the poor creatures OF then
sufferings, and to them at least it would
seem the visit of the grim tyrant mus
be welcome.
Whether the Ieprosy of Mexico is con
taeious. am unable to say. With man.
I have little doub! that it is to degre'
constitutional. being always hereditar.
and never entirely eradicated from th'
blood. The climate may have some ef
feet in engendering and keeping aliv
the disease, but of this, too, l am un
certain. The common belief among th
lower classes is that it is communicate
by contact, and am inclined to thin
that the only risk person runs OF tai
ing it is from touching the person OF on
afflicted with it in its worst stages. I'll
! families and friends OF the laz Gin'
would frequently visit them bringir
, many little lu1uries to add to their con
fort. They would sit and converse wit
9 them, too, for hours, apparently regar'
y less of danger, but for myself, L toe
particular care not to come in too clo
= contact with the unfortunate leper
n Notwithstanding their lot, which SCENE
r to be most melancholy, as body, th'
o appeared well to enjoy themselve
\ Many OF them were continually playll
h at draughts or cards, taking the mosti
=. tense interest in the games. On mai
- occasions saw parties of four engag
II at cards who had not single nose or
# entire finger among them, and any lit
, success of one of them would be hail
+ with delight.
Their dexterity, too, in shufllng a
=, dealing cards when bereft of finge
ot Many of them were musicians, perfor
n ing on both the harp and mandolin,
"a after nightfal they usually had daI
a. among themselves. Frequently tf
~ were visited by some of the female
- mates of the hospital, who woulG j.
,s their merrymakings. To describe one
:. these dances were impossible. A set
20 them composed of one or more coup
would take the floor. Some OF
M ancers were upon crutche5 and almt
an all were in some way lame or disable
The music would strike up and tt
49, would follow some monotonous MexiC
~ dance. accompanied by singing volc
~ which were excruciatingly harsh and
aa cordant.