St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-21
Beggs' directions, after which court ad-
jOurned.
LEPRosY IN WEST INDIES.
Said to Be on the Increase in
All of the Islands.

Said to Be on the Increase in
All Of the Islands.
Panama Star and Herald.
There is not one of the West Indian
colonies IN which cases of leprosy are
not to be found. In some islands there
are but few, some of which are isolated,
In others there are sufficient number
to necessitate the establishment of spe-
cial asylums. In no case, however, has
the disease been treated as conta-
giOuS, and, in consequence, even
where 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 a
bone of contention between "authOrl-
ties" the truth has at last been dehn-
tely asrertained that the terrible dis
ease is contagious as well as incurable.
The experience of Father Damien mas
demonstrated this. and before the facts
of that case, supplemented as it is by
others, all the SpeculatiOnS OF theorists
go down like card houses.
A movement is already beginning 10
be made i'm the neighboring Islands
looking toward the Capitalization and
isolation of all cases of this disease.
And that the movement will rapidly
mature we think there can be no DOUBT,
for even in the islands that possess asy-
lumS those institutions are nothing out
nurseries for the disease, since IL is con-
taglOus. The inmates rear poultry, pigs
and goats, and cultivate provisions. all
which find their way to the common
markets. And institutions or no lnStl-
buttons, i'm all but exceptional cases,
where the patients voluntarily isolate
themselves, the affected mingle freely
with the people. In Nevis. for instance,
the writer has seen leperS dong
scullion's work for their meals, while
i'm Trinidad he has seen them served IN
public bar room. While those might
be exceptional cases, they indicate the
great laxity that has existed under the
policy based on the nOn-contaglon the
DRY. In word, Intimacy and leprosy
have been treated on equal terms. with
the result that year by year the awful
disease has been slowly but steadily
spreading. In the Island of st. Kits,
for example, while in 1878 there We're
so cases recorded, in 1888 these had in
creased to over 100.
The only means of dealing with the
disease and successfully stamping it
out is that adopted by the Sandwich
Island gOVernment-utter and uncom-
promising isolation. OF course, sehti-
ment is a powerful factor in mans rela-
tionS with his kind; but this is one or
those cases in which sentiment must be
subOrdinated to an imperative general
necessity. Already. therefore. are the
more advanced sections of the west In
dian press taking up the cry for Segre-
CATION. One of the leading West
Indian papers. the Demerara Aigosy,
gives the keynote of the new departure,
and says there Is nothing Ito prevent
the colonies joining together toward the
common object, and looking about for
secluded and comfortable quarters for
the lepers. where the unfortunate peo.
ole would have pleasant home, amid
agreeable surroundings, and occupation
for such of them as were able to work
in quantity enough to keep them
from wearying." The best place
that can be found for
this purpose, answering 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 100 square miles III
area and populated by about 6.0OO-the
great majority of whom, however, live
al the principal island-Totola. liz
wOuld, therefore. be an easy matter to
remove the solitary fishing village from
some one of the "Out Islands to an
other, and Il leper colony could then be
founded Oh the lines of that of Molokal.