The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-12
THE LEPERS At KALAWAO.
The Fearful Disease That Is Eating Away
the Life of the Hawaiian Islands.
Leprosy and Its Ravages in Ancient and
Modern Times-The Government Set
Element on the Island of M0lOkai.
written for the indianapolis Journal.

FFoUl tue edrHeSJ tlile lepcrSf lOdlucu anu
feared by all men, have been class to them
selves There is little doubt that leprosy origin
ated in the valley of the Nile, in prehistoric
times. Herodotus knew of leprosy as existing
in Persia. The early Greek and Latin writers
speak of it as foreign disease, but it became
established in Greece and Italy in the first cen
fury before Christ. The disease spread enor-
mously during the middle ages. 1t was amid the
stir and movement of the crusades that leprosy
grew to be epidemic in western Europe. 1t at
tackled the people in great numbers, and
in all ranks, including members of the
royal families. The isolation of lepers was
enforced by law, and special Co.'S
tune, usually long, gray gown, with hood
drawn over the face, was worn, and wooden
clapper was carried to give warning OF their ap-
proach. They were forbidden to enter inns,
churches. mills or bake-houses, to touch healthy
persons, or eat with them, to wash in the
streams or walk in the narrow foot-paths.
The disease first began to decline in Italy in
the fifteenth century, and had almost disap-
peared in the seventeenth. AT present there u.s.
compared with the middle ages, but little of it
in tine world and this is found principally on
the west coast of Norway, in the Baltic prov
inces of Russia, in certain coast provinces of
Spain and Portugal, in Iceland and along the
shore of the Black sea. 1t is quite common all
over the East, from Syria to Japan and KANT
chatka, in Egypt and North African states and
in various other parts of Africa. It is common
in Damascus. Jerusalem, China, Japan, India,
Persia and many islands of the sea, especially
in the Sandwich Islands. But, as compared
with the leprosy of the early ages, the disease
may be said to have disappeared from the earth.
do not wish here to enter into the history
and pathology of leprosy, but to more particu-
larry describe the state Of the disease in the
Sandwich Islands. whera a residence of six years
among the people certainly gives me some ac-
quaintanceship with leprosy as it there exists
These beautiful islands, lying warm and fertile
in the very lap of the blue Pacific were once
peopled by race of men strong and supple
bright of eye and clean of limb; but leprosy has
fastened its fangs upon them, and is rapidly and
certainly eating out the very heart of the ma
ton. The ravages it has made are terrible, and
though Of comparatively modern growth. it has
already poisoned the life blood of the race
There are probably to-day nearly 1000 lepers in
the Sandwich Islands among total native pop
ulation of less than 600. About half of these
are gathered at Kalawao, the leper settlement
on the island of Molokai, where they are sup
ported by the government They are we'll fed
and housed have physician in frequent at
tendance, and so far as their strength permits
cultivate little patches of land They are kindly
cared for, and their living death is made as COM
Portable and happy as lies in the power
OF generous government The origin
of leprosy in the islands is not
well known, but its name. mai pake
1.-THE Chinese disease shows whence it is
supposed to have come. 1t is generally
cepted fact throughout the islands that the dis
was first introduced into the country by the
Chinese. Still, at the present time there are but
few victims of leprosy among the Chinese. The
whites are also but rarely attacked by the NAL
ady. When l visited the leper settlement I
found but two white men, while the natives
numbered considerably over thousand. I
spent three days in the leper settlement and
witnessed some thrilling spectacles. The feat
ures Of the wretched victims so thickened and
distorted that they must have passed all recog-
milton, even by their nearest friends. Some had
their fingers and toes, and some even their hands
and feet rotted off One poor woman had lost
both arms and legs, and lay on the ground
helpless head and trunk. In some the lobes of
the ears were SO enlarged that they hung upon
the shoulders. / saw ten and twelve inches
in length and thickened in proportion. The vo-
Stimulates the whine of dog;
and Body, While the thickenins of
of the skin gives all sorts of queer and horrible
distortions to the countenance. Indeed, the
horror and terror of Dantes hell is not to be
compared to a sojourn among the lepers of Kali
awao Fortunately the wretched creatures suffer
but little pain. The appetite continues. while
the parts affected are benumbed. Some of them
however, complain grievousy of a sensation as
if thousands of ants were crawling over the
body. This feeling is really more uncomfortable
than PAIN and many of the poor fellows told me
THAI for nights and days they had walked their
roo2us sleepless and in agony, vainlY surviving to
overcome this terrible itching, till their bodies
and limbs were raw and bleeding in their frantic
efforts to quiet their sufferings A local numb
is generally the first symptom. For ex-
ample, foreign resident to all appearances
we'll. found one evening, in taking hot lamp
chimney. that he did not feel the heat in his
fingers. This was his first intimaton that he was
the victim of leprosy gentleman who was
born in the islands, of foreign parentage found
some eight years ago, that patch on
his right thigh was insensible to touch
He could pinch it or run pin into the part
without sensation His physician thought it a
local paralysis After few months the flesh
and skin covering the arch above the eyes be-
came thickened, beneath the eyes the cheeks
the ears began to thicken, the joints of the
fingers and toes to stiffen. Consultations with
various physicians in Honolulu were OF no avail,
and he was finally obliged to leave the islands to
avoid being sent to the leper settlement. AS
soon as person is suspected of having the lep-
rosy he is sent by the government physician of
his district to the receiving hospital in Honolulu
where he is again examined and his case pro-
nounced upon. He generally remains here some
time under treatment and when it is found that he
is without doubt leper, he is sent to the settle
ment which he can never again leave. Treat
ment is of but little avail, and no authentic cure
OF this terrible malady has ever been reported
| hope never again to witness so sorrowful
scene the departure of the government yes
sci from Honolulu with load of lepers
for the settlement The oathsome
horror of the sight beggars description. Fifty
or sixty human beings, of all ages and condi
tons, and in every stage of rottenness, crowded
together on board one small schooner And
then their frantic grief as they bid farewell to
home and loved ones-husbands and wives sep
arated sisters taken from brothers, children
torn from the loving arms of mothers-and to