Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-08-07
Said TO he ON the Increase i'm All OF
the lDl0nda.
From the Panama Star and Herald. /

lFrom the Panama Star and Herald
There IL not one of the West Indian colo
mics in which cases of leprosy are not to be
found. In some islands there are but few,
and many of which are isolated. In others
there are sufficient number to nscessitate
the establishment of special asylums. In
no case, however, has the disease been treat
ed as contagious, and in consequence even
whore there are asylums the inmates have
been allowed to roam about pretty much as
they pleased. There are indications, how
ever, that this condition of affairs will not
be allowed to continue much longer. After
being for long years q bone of contention
between authorities" the truth has at last
been definitely asoertained that the terrible
disease is contagious a. well as inourable.
The experience of Father Damien has de-
monstrated this, aud before the facts of that
ease, supplemented az it is by others, all the
speculations of theorists go down like card
houses.
movement is already beginning to be
ward the Capitalization and isolation of all
cases of this disease. And that the move
ment will rapidly mature We think there can
be no doubt, for even in the islands that pos
sess asylums those institutions are nothing
but nurseries for the disease, since 1t is con-
taglous. The inmates rear poultry, pigs
and goats, and cultivate provisions, ali of
which find their way to the common mar
kets! And institutions or no institutions,
in all but exceptional cases, where the pa
tients voluntarily isolate themselves, the af-
fected mingle freely with the people. In
Nevis, for instance, the writer has seen
lepers doing scullion's work for their meals,
while in Trinidad he has seen them served
in q public barrooml While these might
be exceptional cases, they indicate the great
laxity that has existed under the policy
based on the non contagion theory. In q
word in6rmity and leprosy have been treat
ed on equal terms, with the result that
year by year the awful disease has been slow
ly but steadily spreading. In the Island of
st. Kits, for example, while In 1878 there
were sixty cases recorded, in 1883 these had
increased to over one hundred!
The only means Of dealing with the dis
ease and successfully stamping ID out is that
adopted by the Sandwich Island government
utter and Incorporating isolation. Of
course sentiment is q powerful factor In
mans relations with his kind; but this is
one of those cases in which sentiment must
be subordinated to an imperative general
necessity. Already, therefore, are the more
advanced sections of the West Indian press
the leading West Indian papers, the Demera-
ra Argosy, gives the key note Of the new de-
psrture, and says there is nothin. ito pre-
vent the colonies joining together toward the
common object, and looking about for seclu-
ded and comfortable quarters for the lepers,
where the unfortunate people would have q
pleasant home, amid agreeable surround.
ing, and occupation for such of them az
were able to work, in quantity enough to
keep them from wearying." The best place
that can be found for this purpose, an
swering all the requirements, would be
some one of the many islets of the British
Virgin group. There are half a dozen
available islands, aggregating nearly one
hundred square miles in area and populated
Of whom, however, live at the principal
It would therefore be an
easy matter to remove the solitary fishing |
village from some one Of the "out islandsO |
10 another, and a leper colony could then
be- founded on the lines of that Of Molokai.