Connecticut western news., 1884-08-27
LEPROSY IN MEXICO.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE TERRIBLE
 ASIATIC sCOURGE.
A Visit to the Hospital where the Victims
 are Confined at san LRzRro.

The leprosy is disease which is com psratively alien in Anglo-Saxon coun- tries, there being but three places on the North American continent where it has obtained 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 the Chinese are the only sufferers, but in Mexico the disease affects all classes, rich as well as poor, beautiful senoritas of high birth and proud hidalgos, through whose veins courses the purest blood of Castile and Leon, being sub- iect to the horrible distemper. As soon as the presence of the disease is ascer- tained the victim is removed to hospi- tai set apart and maintained at the pub. lie expense for that purpose, which is appropriately named St. Lszaro, where they are confined until released from their suferings by death. I have had special opportunities for observing the workings of the leprosy in all of it's stages in Mexico, having, through the influence of 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. It makes its first appearance by scaly erup- tions on different parts of the face and body of the victim, and these eruptions 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. husky and unnatural tone, and again the doomed patient is unable to articu- late except in 8 shrill, piping treble. With many, when near the last stages. all powers of speech are lost, and vainly do they endeavor to make known their wants by sounds. Death steps in at last to relieve the poor creatures of their sufferings, and to them at least it would seem the visit of the grim tyrant must be welcome.
 Whether the leprosy of Mexico is con tagious, I am unable to say. With many have little doub. that it is to a degree constitutional, being always hereditary and never entirely eradicated from the blood. The climate may have some ef- feet Tn engendering and keeping alive the disease, but of this, too, am un. certain. The common belief among the lower classes is that it is communicated by contact, and am inclined to think that the only risk person runs of talk. ing 1t is from touching the person of one afflicted with it in its worst stages. The families and friends of the lazarinos would frequently visit them bringing many little luxuries to add to their com fort They would sit and converse with them, too, for hours, apparently regard less of danger, but for myself, I took particular care not to come in too close contact with tue unfortunate lepers. Notwithstanding their lot, which seemed to be most melancholy, as a body, they appeared well to enjoy themselves. Many of them were continually playing at draughts or cards, taking the most in. tense interest in the games. On many occasions I saw parties of four engaged at cards who had not single nose or au entire finger among them, and any little success of one of them would be hailed with delight.
 Their dexterity, too, in shuffling and dealing cards when bereft of fingers. Many of them were musicians, perform ing on both the harp and mandolin, and after nightfal they usually had dance among themselves. Frequently they were visited by some of the female in. mates of the hospital, who would join their merrymakings. To describe one oI these dances were impossible. A set of them composed of one or more couples would take the floor. Some of the dancers were upon crutches and almost all were in some way lame or disabled. The music would strike up and then would follow some monotonous Mexican dance, accompanied by singing voices, which were excruciatingly harsh and dis cordant,