St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-04
IEPROSY.

The announcement that large number
of cases of leprosy exist in the neighbor-
hood of Spring Grove, in the southern part
Of the state, and in the northern part of
Iowa, and that the physicians say it is con-
tagious, requires that the state board of
health should give prompt attention to the
matter. Leprosy is a very old disease
perhaps the oldest of which we have definite
knowledge. We. know that 1t existed
among the Jews and Egyptians in the
primitive ages, and was regarded by them
with peculiar horror. The Jews carried
the disease with them into Palestine.
and the stringent provisions Of the
Mosaic law show how dreadful must
have been its ravages, and how great the
terror which was excited. The leper was
made an outcast. Under the impression
that no natural remedy could be prescribed.
as it was regarded disease sent from GOD,
the Jews required that person suspected
of being infected with it should be brought
before the priest and, il in the opinion of
the latter the disease was pronounced
leprosy, the patient was separated from his
people and sent to sOjOurn in the leper
villages, which were established in secluded
districts for the accommodation of these
outcasts. So strictly was this law enforced
that kings afflicted with the disease were
expelled from their thrones and shut
out from society. With the decline
of the Roman empire when the tide of emf
grafton began to take westward course
lelrsy was disseminated over Europe.
During the middle ages it prevailed TO such
a frightful extent that the efforts of law
givers were unceasing to arrest its diffusion.
The practice Of isolating the infected pre-
vailed until about the thirteenth century,
when under the influence of Christianity
more humane treatment was adopted and
asylums and hospitals were provided for
the reception of leprous patients. During
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
these buildings were dotted over the face
of the continent, there being scarcely a
town or borough that was not provided with
one of them. But still under these more
favorable circumstances the leper was CON-
pletely and forever an outcast, being con-
sidered both legally and politically dead
person. His marriage ties were dis
solved, he was not permitted to enter
any place where food was being
prepared, ne was compelled TO take
up his food with fork or pick up any artl-
Gle he needed with a stick. His hands
were not to touch anything, nor was he
permitted TO dip his hands in running
water. He was strictly enjoned TO wear
a peculiar dress by which he could be
known at distance, and to give notice
of his approach by ringing bell. So fully
was he regarded as being dead TO the world
that at the time il was discovered that he
had the disease and was sent to the hos
pital and set apart from his fellow creatures
the ceremonial for the burial of the dead
was pronounced over him. and to carry out
the illusion shovelful of dirt was thrown
over his body. The horrible disease has
retired. however, before the progress of
civilization in Europe until now 1t is alto
gether unknown except in few places i'm
Norway. In the East it still exists in its
ancient seats and sporadic cases are
found in the West Indies and occasionally
in Canada and the United States.
Leprosy is disease of which so little is
known in modern times that there are COM
paratively so few Americans that have seen
real live leper that 1t is easy to mistake it
for some kindred disease. II may be con-
founded with tubercular and scaly diseases
of the skin, such diseases as are rendered
rife and inveterate by bad diet and want of
cleanliness. Recently at clinic held at
the College of Physicians and Surgeons in
New York, leper was presented for ex-
animation. The patient was a young
mulatto from the West Indies. The dis
patches say that he was tall, well-made
young fellow of about 90 years, cheer
full looking, and smilingly submitted
to the examination. Scattered over
his limbs and body were scabby,
whitish patches, somewhat resembling
the integument Of the scalp. These
patches, it was explained, were entirely
lacking in sensibility, and in order to
prove this statement the physicians