The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-14
LEPROSY.
An Incurable Plague That has
Scourged the World From Very
Early Tim es-Several Centers III
North America.


Early Tim es-Several Centers III
North America.
From the st. Louis Republic.
Except to the attentive reader OF the daily
papers, it is fact unknown to the majority
of people that the leprosy of the Bible and
middle ages still prevails and is endemic in
many parts of the modern world, and that
no inconsiderable number of cases are to be
found in the United States.
More startling still is the statement that
several cases of this loathsome disorder
have from time to time been recognized in
our own city.
1t is unpleasant to reflect that 0 wing to
the open arms with which we welcome all
races and conditions of men, our shores are
being constantly invaded by the moral as
we'll as physical ieparl of the old world.
In general way it may be stated that
leprosy is imported into North America
from the Scandinavian peninsula from
China, Norway and Sweden, and to a lie
extent by scattering men who have acquired
the disease in the ports of the Eas6 and
West Indies, or in the countries already
mentioned. There have also been certain toci
of the maladv here, notably in Louisiana,
South Carolina and New Brunswick.
But before inquiring further in this direc-
ton a brief history of the disease, together
with its chief SYMPTOMS and pecuharties,
will not prove uninteresting. Leprosy has
been well known from the earliest times of
which we have record; having been de-
scribed under the name of Batarakta in
'Ayur Veda, a medical work which dates
several hundred yeats before Christ
Josephus also tells us that the Jewish hosts
during their stay in the wilderness had
many leperS among them from this it is
reasonable to infer that the disease had for
some time existed in Egypt previous to the
exodus of the Jews, but upon this point the
old Egyptian hieroglyphical works throw no
light. At all events we are certain that it
prevailed to very considerable extent in
China, India and other Asiastic countries
at very early date; that the Hebrews car
ried it with them to PaleS inc, and that at
a somewhat later period it made its way to
Greece and Rome.
During the twelfth and thirteenth centu-
rleS it reached its hight in Europe, there
having been at that time 1900 lazlrettos
in existence; but owing to the enforc 9ment
of laws which excluded lepers from all in
tercouse with the people, the malay began
to diminish III the fifteenth. and had almost
disappeared at the close of the seventeeth
century. 1t is not definitely known when
the disease was first introduced into the
United States and adjacent districts. The
blacks in Florida were said to have been
infected in 1776, and a hospital for lepers
existed in New Orleans in 1855. After this
it seems to have died out, and with it all
recollection of its former presence among
us, until within the last few years its oc-
currence in the southern states has again
attracted attention. The first case was dis
covered in Louisiana in 1866 in an old
woman, whose father had come from South
France; she died in 1870. In 1871 one of
her sons showed signs of the disorder; in
1872 two others. In 1876 it appeared in
nephew and a girl who had waited on the
old woman. Besides these, other cases, 81
in all, were reported in New Orleans meli-
cal Journal in 1873. Since 1916 16 cases have
been obs served in South Carolina - among
the Norwegian immigrants in Minnesota
since 1879, and So in San Francisco. Fifty
one of the latter were Chinese, and 40 of
them were sent back to China. In New
brunswick 129 lepers had been treated in
the hospital for that purpose up to 1879
Besides these, many isolated cases have
been discovered in different parts of the
country, and especially among the Chinese
immigrants in Oregon.
Leprosy is a constitutional disease, which
pursueS chronic course to fatal termina-
ton. 1t is charac te.ized by certain changes
in the SKIN, mucous membranes, nerves and
most of the organs of the body. The patient
is first seized with an unaccountable Ian
gour OF mind and body, tihgllng sensations
in the skin, a little fever Ia the evening,
various disturbances of digestion and the
appearance on the extremeties or chest Of
small blisters. This is the stage of invasion,
and may last for months or even years.
Gradually the symptoms increase; spots
slightly elevated, Of reddish color and
from tie size of a pea 10 two or three inc es
in diametar are noticed upon tue limbs
The color slowely fades from the centre,
leaving parch Of dry pale skin surrounded
by zone OF red which continually enlarges
in circumference. Wherever these LESSONS
exist the cuticle becomes hard and thick
ened, the epidermis peels off, and sensation
is entirely lost, 50 that the patient may be
cut or burned without feeling pain. Large
blebs resembling the b.isters produced by
severe scald begin TO show themselves; thew
grow rapidly and burst, disclosing a raw
surface which in a few days either becomes
covered by gray oryelloWish seal, or ulcer
ates, the ulcers often extending to the bone,
causing it 10 decay. The flesh about the
joints OF the fingers and toes swells aud
breaks down, so that the parts may be lost.
indeed, the fingers and toes usually drop of
in succession at the first joint above the
nail. The muscles, and especially those of
the hand and forearm, waste away and dis
appear; the motor nerves, and particularly
those supplying the face, are paralyzed. and
serious changes take place in the brain,
splnai cord and internal organs. The fea-
lures Of the patient are greatly deformed.