Evening journal., 1889-05-13
LEPERS IN NEW YORK.
The Victims Bound with Fet-
ters of Death.
A SAD STORY OF SUFFERING.

One of tho Patients Is Concealed by
Friends in "a villa in Fordham. and the
other Is In an Uptown uospital-Liter-
ally Rotting Away.
NEW YoRK, May i3-Announcement OF
the death OF Father Damien the heroic priest
who sacrificed his life in the leper settlement
at Molokai, in the Sandwich Islands, has ex-
cited a new popular interest in that class Of
unfortunates who are the outcasts Of hui
manity by reason Of their terrible physical
Affections Now and then isolated cases OF
leprosy appear in the United States which
have had their origin in other countries.
AT present there are two victims Of this
dread disease IN New York. These cases are
known to only few medical men and the
near relatives oR one unfortunate who be
longs to a well known family in this city.
The latter is said 10 be secreted somewhere
in Fordhan, and nobody who lives near the
pretty little villa has any idea that It is liy-
ing tomb.
Literally Rotting Away.
The other leper may be called Carlos Jorge
Snguan. He is only 20 years old, and
native of the largest seaport of one Of the
South American republics, where his family,
which is one OF considerable prominence,
now resides Last July the young man was
brought here for treatment, and after living
for a while on Fifteenth street was removed
in December last TO the German hospital at
Seventy seventh street and Fourth avenue.
He is now a private patient in that institu-
ton Within the past few days it was found
necessary TO perform surgical operation on
him. for he is literally rotting away.
To avoid notoriety, which would natur-
ally be attached TO case so rare in this
country, Saguan is registered at the hospital
as suffering with ''perforating ulcers of the
feet.n Death, however, will soon relieve
him from his terrible sufferings, and the
autopsy which will then he made win render
further secrecy in the matter useless.
Heroism and Love.
Those who have come IN contact with the
/ patient have been charmed by his courteous
manners and bravery under acute sulferngs
alone and in a strange land In the ten
months he has been in New York he has ac-
quired an excellent knowledge Of English.
As his stiffened hands prevent him from
writing he corresponds with his family by
using typewriter, ON which he painfully
strikes out letter after letter, sending mes
sages Of love and encouraging reports about
himself, while the tears he cannot keep back
course down his cheeks as the pain racks HIM
How the Victim Appears
Saguan is Of medium height and nov
weighs about 125 pounds. The eyebrows ar
sparse. There are no bald spots on his head
his face looks puffed, the ears are purplis
red, hard and project somewhat forward th
t lips are irregularly thickened and the nos
: swelled out on the left side. On the upps
5 part Of the right chest, an inch below Il
I collar bone, is a circular scar which he attri
!, utes TO blister. but which was probably d
= ulcer similar to those he has now on his fee
4 All over the chest, and more marked on Il
q sides, are fine eruptions, which look like u
effects Of prickly heat, M on the back Al
numerous postules. Botli arms are scarrt
by setons, which were applied five years ag
4 On the outside Of both elbows are seal
IS horny eruptions, and the same is found {
, the index fingers and thumbs
: Consuming His Tissues.
There is absolutely no sensation on the GU
y side surface Of the left arm and on son
parts Of his left arm and also on the bod
= When cut, burned or pricSed in these plac1
q he is not aware Of il. The ulcers on the sol
!. Of mis- feet are rapidly eating away the Ii
u sues, and pieces Of bone come out with Il
copious discharge from the ulcers The
discharges are rapidly draining his strengt
despite careful nursing and plenty Of goo
n food which be receives