Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-28

has had charge Of the segregated lepers
on the Island Of Molokai, says, dep.
rosy is assuredly contagious under the
same limitations as syphilis. In leprosy
the degree OF contagiousnehs IL depend
ent on the external manifestations. >
When the disease Is manifested simply
by mascula spots or by anesthesea, II il
not so contagious as when Il takes the
tubereular form. as manifested by
mueus patches and ulcers There is
but one opinion among the physicians
on tho Islands on the subject, and that
is that the disease Is both contagious and
hereditary. Certainly all persons ex-
posed TO ieprosy do not develop the dis
ease. Occasionally husband will live
for years with leper wife, and vice
persd, and not contract the disease.
But where there is such an immunity
it is fair to assume that the conditions
of an abraded surface and the contact
with raw surfaces have not been full
filled. Emigrated Americans and Euro
peans having intimate intercourse with
the lepers, sooner or later take the dis
ease.
The exact period of the incubation
stage has never been determined. No
primary lesion has ever been observed,
and the disease, when iirrt recognized,
is thoroughly constitutional. But the
period of exposure in individual cases
has been ascertained with some degree
OF certainty, and would indicate range
OF from five to ten years from the time
OF exposure until the development OF the
disease. HEREDITARY leprosy develops in
children between the ages Of five and
seven years. This is thought to be a
guide as to the period OF incubation in
acquired cases.
Leprosy on the Hawaiian Islands does
not differ from the biblical account of it
among the Hebrews The same varie-
ties are recognized wherever the disease
exists. In truth, there is but one lep-
rosy on earth, no absolute line separates
one variety from another One form is
inclined more to the tubercular forma-
tons in the skin, while another espe-
cially affects the nerves, producing anes-
thesia and paralysis. But SYMPTOMS of
each variety are blended and we'll
marked in every individual case.
As for the treatment of leprosy on the
Islands, it has not been more or less sue
C6bSlul biiui bnt btthttfcnt VI bflt utbth5t
in other countries. The medical pro-
fession has simply to acknowledge that
ii has never cured single case--not
reliable record can be found to-day of
single cure. No claim is made for any
cure among the Hawaiians
All remedies which have been tried
from time to time elsewhere have been
tried here, and every new therapeutieal
proposition experimental with. No
remedy has exerted any specific action.
Some are of undoubted value in strength
ening the constitutional powers and in
retarding for a time the progress of the
disease. Also good diet and favorable
hygienic surroundings help to lengthen
the span of leper life. But sad indeed
is the fate of leper--before him opens
out miserable existence of gradual de-
cay. of helpless imbecility and life of
despair thousand times worse than
death.
There is a vague belief in the profess
sion that in some mysterious way rela.
tion exists between leprosy and syphilis
This view is not maintained by any
modern dermatologists. The microscope,
the sine qua non of all modern investiga-
ton, has demonstrated that leprosy is q
parasitic disease. In every case OF lep-
rosy the bacillus lepre is obtained. On
The other hand, no bacteria or bacilli
have been discovered in syphilis.
Leprosy is the Oldest known disease,
and numbers its years with history. The
Hebrews brought the aiiliction with
them into Palestine, and the stringent
provisions of the Mosaic laws show how
dreadful must have been its ravages and
how great the terror while 1t existed. So
strictly was the rule of segregation OBJ.
served that even kings afflicted with the
disease we're expelled from their thrones
and shut out from society.
Syphilis had no history and no men
ton was made OF it before the fifteenth
century. An interesting accoant was
written Of it at that time by monk in b
latin poem. He expressed his dread of
the new disease, which spared neither
laymen nor the holy ehurchmen and
even invaded the precincts of the papal
throne. There are probably no two SKIN
diseases in which the differential dag
nosis can be made with greater certainty.
But the durability of syphilis and the
non.curability of leprosy decides beyond
any question of doubt the distinct sep.
arability of the two diseases. About
ninety-five per cent. under modern
treatment recover from syphilis, but
how dismal the prospects of leper.
Furthermore, the question has been
settled beyond dispute that leper will
contract syphilis and with proper treat
ment recover from it, while the original
disease goes on and ends in DEATH
No form of elephantiasis has ever been
known among the Hawaiians. -Sestthern
California Practitioner.