Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-09-10
.snasAn OF LypposY
G1sri. Mado to cheoS Tho oaths"ws
Di."nae in Europe aud America.

[. a-|I - 1
G1sri. Mndo to checy Tho I oaths"ws
Di."nae III Europe aud Amrr'ra.
Since the death OF Father Damien
OF leprosy Mt tho leper colony In tho
Sandwich Islands public attention has
been especially drawn to this loath-
some disease. both in, Europe and
America In England the Prince OF
Wales has popularlzed a movement for
u memorial to the martyr who gave up
his life so unsel6shly to succor his UNI
fortunate fellow-creatures. but tho
Prince has done more than this. He
has unearthcd leper In London
among the butchers stalls, and no
has directed scientific inquiry TO the
number of lepers In England and the
possibility OF the spread OF the disease
In the United Kingdom. Almost CO.
incident with this action was n meet
ing OF the Now York Academy OF
Medicine, at which leprosy, its origin,
causes. spread. and the danger that
may Turk In 1t for this country wero
deliberately discussed. AS Is to be
expected when doctors get together
for pow.pow, there was some dli-
ference OF opinion upon several oil
these points.
All candidly acknowledged that the
origin OF the disease is unknown be-
yond the presence OF bacillus as In
tuberculosis; but whether this bacillus
produces the disease or is an incident
OF its progress is not clear. All agreed
that the disease is contagious, but there
was difference as TO whether or not
the bacillus lives in aud can be com
municated through soil. water and air.
There was also controversy concerning
the spread OF the disease In this coun-
try, some claiming that 1t had largely
increased OF late. while others held
stoutly that there were not ms many
cases now Ms there had been. The
alarming feature OF the discussion was
the admission that quite q number OF
cases had been noted in the vicinity OF
Charleston, New Orleans and San
francisco. while recently the re-
voting disease had been unearthed
IN Utah. and IL was not an
unusual occurrence for three |
or four leprrs to make their appear
ance annually in New YORK hospitals.
1t was conceded that science was ut
terly helpless in the presence OF this
foul scourge. 1t is known that 1t is
contagious. and this comprises about
all that Is known about II.
The Academy Of Medicine conclud-
cd, as it did ten years ago without
practical result. that the National Gov
eminent should take steps while there
was time to stamp out the disease,
and this can be done ouly by scsregat-
ing the lepors. The dreadful fate OF
the Sandwich Islanders was cited.
Leprosy is OF comparatively recent
origin In those islands. but owing to
belief that 1t was not contagious no
steps were taken TO check it. To-day
there are 1000 lepers at Morlachi.
and from FIVE to ten per cont OF the
native population is thought to be in
oculated with the disease. while many
Foreigners have become impregnated.
Like series OF fires bursting out in
different spots. II each OF them Is
checked before 1t makes any sensible
inroads, a great connagration can BIO
averted. but II they are allowed to got
Roadway aud united with each other in
t cir destructive work. no subsequent
efforts for their extintion will avail
until there is no fuel for them to feed
upon. II the lepers said 10 be In dill
ferent parts OF the Union to the num-
Dor Of 25o or more sre segregated from
the healthy inhabitants by IN authority
with the extensive jurisdiction OF the
National Governmental would be com
paratively easy to expel the disease
from the country; but II each OF the
unfortunates IL allowed to form ceG-
ter Of contagion. or there is no concert
OF action In its suppression, tho fate OF
the Americans hundred or even fifty
years hence might be similar to that
OF the Sandwich Islanders. Congress
should be invoked to give early atten-
ton to the Observation-Disclosures Ameri-
can.