Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-04
FRIDAY, OCT.4, 1889.
Rates Of Subscription:
SPREAD OF LEpRosY
Efforts Made TO Check the fOathsom,
Disease in Europe ana America.


Efforts Made to Check the oathsoms
Disease in Europe and America.
Since the death of Father Damien
OF leprosy at the lepcr colony in the
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 popularized a movement for
memorial to the martyr who gave up
his life so unselfishly to succor his un-
fortunate fellow-creatures, but the
Prince has done more than this lie
has unearthed a leper in London
among the butchers stalls. and he
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 4 meet
ing of the New York Academy Of
Medicine, at which leprosy, its origin,
causes. spread, and the danger that
may Turk in it for this country were
deliberately discussed. As is to be
expected when doctors get together
for pow-pow, there was some diff
ference of opinion upon several Of
these points.
All candidly Acknowledged that the
origin of the disease is unknown be-
yond the presence OF a 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 a difference as to whether or not
the bacillus lives in and can be COM
municated through soil. water and air.
There was also controversy concerning
the spread of the disease in this couu-
try, some claiming that ii had largely
increased Of late, while others held
stoutly that there wero not as many
cases now rs there had been The
alarming feature Of the discussion was
the admission that quite a 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 it was not an
unusual occurrence for three
or four lepers 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 it is
contagious, and this comprises about
all that IL known about it,
The Academy Of Medicine eonclud-
ed, 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 only by seeregat-
ing the lepers. The dreadful fate of
the Sandwich Islanders was cited.
Leprosy IS OF comparatively recent
origin in those islands. but owing to a
belief that it was not contagious no
steps were taken to check &C. To-day
there are 1000 lepers at Morlachi,
and from five TO ten per cent OF the
native population is thought to be in
oculated with the disease. while many
foreigners have become imprcgnatel.
Like a series Of fires bursting out lin
different spots, II each Of them is
checked before 1t makes any sensible
inroads a great confagration can be
nverted, but If they are allowed to get
Roadway and united with each otherin
their destructive work. no subsequent
efforts for their extintion viii avail
until there is no fuel for them TO feed
upon. II the lcpers said TO be in diff
ferent parts Of the Union to the mum
Der of $50 or more are segregated from
the healthy inhabitants by an authority
with the extensive jurisdiction OF the
National Governmental would be com
paratively easy to eXpcl the disease
from the country; but il each of the
unfortunates IS allowed TO form a CEN
ter OF contagion, or there is no concert f.
OF action in It's suppression, the 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 matter.-Baltimor Ameri-
can.