The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-11-28
Leprosy Among the the Chinese
in America.

IN AfnGTlCd.
\ writer who has given attention to
the alarming fact that the hideous dis
ease of leprosy IS being introduced into
this county by the Chinese, gives the
following to the press;
Z The recent discovery ola Chinese leper,
named sam Ling, over in Newark. and
the consequent local excitement there
upon, have had quite marked effect in
re-awskening New Workers 10 a con
/ scionsness that there Is vast deal ofthis
horrible disease wherever there are
I Cinnamon. and that New York has a
large Chinese population. Ont Of pru-
dent consideration for the preiudices of
white people, who generally believe the
disease infeet;ous-an opinion not shar-
ell by the Chinese-our Monaghan neigh
bors generally take very good care to hide
away their lepers.
Only a few weeks ago, an American
physician here. learning from a Chinese
convert where there was leper in far
advanced stage of the disease. sought 10
view the case for the purpose Of making
a study of it. He found the house, on
Mott street, where the man was secpted,
but was met on the stains by a couple Of
! Cinnamon who made him understand
by signs that they would chop his head
of with a couple Of very ugly looking
hltchets that they brandished if he persis-
tea in trying to pentrSte any farther He
fled, but returned the next day, accom-
pInied with a health officer armed with
authority TO search the house. II was too
late, however. The leper had been spirited
away during the night, and whether he
is still kept somewhere in the swarrning
hive Of Mott street or was shipped OF to
BelleviIle or Newark, and they will not
tell.
Whether leprosy IS really infections OF
not, Californians-who have had more
opportunities to study Chinese life than
We Of the Eas; have enjoyed-think that
it is, and certainly good many people
have died oft on the Pacific slope. l
was perfectly cognizant OF one such case
that was painfully tragic. A young man
treasurer and general manager of a flour
ishing brewing company. in which he
owned an interest, boarded where / did,
on OFarreIl street. I do not think that
1 ever knew a more genial. generous,
clever and popular young fellow than he
was One day ne called me into his room
and directed my attention to a singular
spot on the right side Of his neck, where
the collar ordinarily covered it. 1t was
about the size Of dime, round. and look
ed as if painted with zinc-white. or rath.
cr as ifall color had been extracted from
the tissues there Do YOU know what
that is?" he asked me. hesitated
While ! believed that knew-for had
already been examining leprosy consid-
eably-it seemed too awful a thing to
think that my handsome, talented. blythe
yoang friend, whom We all liked 80 much
for his manly worth, had upon him the
ineffaceable brand Of that most horrible
doom. 81 believe you suspect what it II,
IS do" he went on, but We will see
how it progresses. We may both be
wrong
some six weeks later be called me in
again to look at the spot 1t had grown
70 the bigness Of a silver quarter. And
another spot was showing. No doubt
was possible. He was doomed. Il know
when | caught it /; three years ago" he
remarked. We wasted no words discuss
ing the situation, for we both knew that
his condition was hopeless. He simply
pressed my hand saying, Don't mention
it 70 anybody" ! said, No" A few
days passed in which he seemed as
light hearted as ever. Meanwhile, as we
afterward learned, he was quietly and
Systematically closing up all his business
Affairs. Then one night as we met in the /
hall he shook hands and said, Good
bye, ! understood him Correctly. but
could not, under the circumstances. dis
approve of his purpose. lie went out
and did not return. Two or three days
elapsed. The landlady-a pretty little /
widow, as good as she was charming. 10 /
whom he was engaged to be married I
was very anxious about him. At his
place Of business there was much Won
derment over his disappearance. His
friends. and be had many. we're all exer- /
eised about him. The news reached Us
that away down in Santa Rosa, in a lone /
ly place by the bank Of a stream. had .
been found the body Of young man
handsome and well dressed, but without
anything about him to give any clue 10
his identity. 4 bullet hole was through
his head and revolver, with one cham /
Der empty, was still clutched in his right I
hand. 1t was our friend He had put
a stop to his leprosy, by the only one
q