The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-14

the skin about the forehead and eyebrows
is greatly thickened and throw into promi-
ne folds, the lips thicken, nose fattens and
the ears stand out couspiciOusly with their
increased bulk, the lips and eyebrows droop,
the hair falls out, and in bad cases even the
eye-balls may ulcerate and sight be de-
stroyed. All Of these changes in FORM
together with the great darkening in tint
which is often present. gives tue most re-
pulsive expression to the face. These are
the chief symptoms; they extend over
more or less lengthen d perio1, the patient
usually dying of exhaustion in about TWEEN
ty years. In dealing with a distemper
which affects so many races and such great
numbers of mankind, which has been for
centuries an object of dread to all nations,
the first question which presents itself to
our minds is, is it contagious?
In considering this point is must be borne
in mind that this malady, in common with
others, requires certain favorable condi-
tons for its propagation and dissemination;
that these requirements are probably best
fulfilled in southern climates, in the mode
of life and in the individual idiosyncrasieS
and predispositions of persons exposed to
the exciting cause. That southern climates
are not necessarily essential to its develop
ment isshown by its wide geographical dis
tribution and its existence in northern lati-
tudes, such as Norway, Sweden, Russia and
New Brunswick.
For more thorough understanding of
its contagious properties, we will follow its
progress on virgin soil, where it was en-
tirely unknown previous to its importation,
and where its natural course can be observed
independent OF theories. Such an oppor-
tunlty for study presents itself i'll the his
tory Of the Hawaiian Islands. The exact
mode and date of introduction is not known
but these islands have for years
been the resorts of whaling fleets manned by
sailors from leprous districts: the natives
shipped as sailors on board these vessels and
after visiting infected ports returned home.
Isolated cases began to occur as far back
as $780, but the disease made slow Roadway
until about 1860, when it increased so rapid
ly that the government took stringent
measures to controlit; all persons who were
found to be attacked were Immediately
sent to a leper segregation upon an island,
from which there was no means of escape
Since 1866 1000 cases have been sent to this
island, this number by no means represent
ing the extent of its prevalence. AS the
native population at a recent census was
only A 900, it will be seen that the proper
ton affected is very large, and that the dis
ease spread very rapidly among them.
This seems best to be accounted for on the
theory of inoculation.
Some modern writers consider the distem-
per mildly contagious, and some, again,
have even gone so far as to doubt that it
can be communicated by one person to
another, a hypothesis which the above
facts d. not seem to bear out However,
setting all theories aside as to whether it
spreads by infection, contagion, inoculation
or some other mode with which we are not
acquainted, 1T nevertheless remains perfec ly
apparent that focus having once been es-
tablished, and infected persons allowed to
mingle with the people, it is but a short
time until We find the number of patients
increasing.
Every method of treatment has been
tried, and failed, the disease remains incur
able. This truth was recognized by the an
clients, and as they considered it highly con-
tagious, they forced all who suffered from
the affection to live on barren spots beyond
the cities. AS is well known a decree Of
this kind is to be found among the Mosaic
laws. Wallace in his 'Ben Hurn gives a
very graphic and correct account of their
mode of living on the outskirts of Jerusa-
lem. AS a rule the multitude of tine people
looked upon lepers with fear and disgust,
and stoned them from the streets if they
ventured within a city. Yet history is not
without many instances of leprous persons
who were rich and powerful ard continued
to mingle il society; indeed Plutarch tells
us that Artaxerxes, King of Persia, con-
tinued to live with his wife. Atossa, after
she had become infected.
Notwithstanding this the best treatment
to-day is that which was pursued over l 800
years ago, and which has bee1 pursued in
every infected country since, and that is to
strictly isolate patients in hospitals where
they cannot infect others, and to prevent
the landing of leprous immigra ITS upon our
coasts.