Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-01-02
Leprosy

Il very elaborate report f.om Cape Coi
oDy on ieprosy Cotsa Siier says that the
primary csuse Of lepfoey bss never been de-
teImined. Il is questiouatla whsther it
risss spontaneously. But where there are
germs Of the disease its spreading lie, un-
douo;edly. facilitated in great part by dirty
living, uuwholscme feeding and loose hab.
lis. Exclusive fish diet s dangerous and
the fact is noteworthy thet the disease is
particularly vi!uient smcng the fishing pop
ulation.
One physician. ho has given much study
to tie subject, attributes 10 the use CT bad
fsh most OF the disease III the colony,
though his opuica is not shared il by the
majority of authorities Indeed, tbere are
practitioners who deny the fish theory alto.
gether, and point for their supportto the
fact that leprosy fourshes in countries
where fish is rarely eaten.
That the disease is hereditary no doubt
seems to exist, aud that it is contiguous is
generally admitted by medical practitioners
If this country, email minority even hold
ing il 10 be infectious. Recent microscopic
10 yesligstion has established the fact that
the diseased tissues aDd eeCrations are in.
vaicG by numerous parssi.ical o1ganlzms
called haciili. This specifc bacillus OF lep-
rosy is, 20 doubt, the true cause, and is
spread by incubation, either by direct con-
tact with the secretion or suppuratng sor,
OF the leper, or transmitted by the clothes,
uteosls, pipes, etc, containing tbese para
eiliceI germs cf the disease.
To touch leprous person with q core
fiueer, use the same knife and fork, or 10
drink out Of the same glass, may be the
means of communicating the diease.
Bua the same law holds good With
leprosy as with other contagious dis.
cases, much depending on individual con-
stilution. Impaired nutrition from INSULT.
cient or impure food, uuclean habits, exclu.
i've 6sh diet doubtless predisposes TO the
invasion OF the baclili, which, 10 healthy,
vigorous constitution, would find no admis.
sion.
While many instances may be pointed out
here where men lived with leprops
wives without contracting the contagion,
we'll authenticated cases are vouched for at
The asylum in which the disease was com
municated by playing on flute previously
used by leper, sleeping in bed previous
ly occupied by eper, bai.iog leper fisher
mans hook, etc
There are two forms; namely, the au@ :
thetic and the tubercular, but they are both
the same specific disease. In the ar Hlhetio
the fingers or toes are first ,fac;ed ALTERED
sensiblity, either burning sensation or 10.
ta iusensitiveness from the minute per-
ipheral nerves ofthe skin being sff7c;ed. In
the black races white patches occur on the
skin, which are quite insengtive; blots then
form On the fingers or tce9, liberation fol.
loving, and the joints drop eff. Ia the tu-
"a for frat mr. ora
in the fealures-the forehead, face, eyebrows,
nose and obss of the ears swell and become
the seat of tubeices the eyebrows and hair
thin and fall eff, the mucous membrane of
the mouth and throat are affected, aud the
voice fails. Both forms often coexist TO-
gather, and nearly always one fellows or
accompanies the other 10 the later stage.
The Immediate cause Of death is usually
congestion OF the lungs, 6iarFhp,, or general
exhaustion. The consul has seen man at
| the asylum with both hands and feet off.
| One of the worst cases pointed out to him
was that of man with nope of his face left,
With the exception, of portion of the lower
| Jaw aud forehead, the nose, eyes, tongue and
cheek bones having disappeared. He was
| only living because the vitel organs bad
been numerically unimpaired. 1t has been
| his lot to witness much human misery and
| distress incident to war end contagious cpl
denies, but he bas seen nothing, nor does he
believe it possible for the mind to conceive
anything SO terrible and ebhorrent ss the
awful picture presented by congregation
of lepers
|. The remarkable fact that eprosy is com
municable to animals has been observed at
Robben Island Asylum, and s vouched for
by unimpeschable authority. Pigeons shot
nea ar the eper wards have been found with
unmstakable symptoms of leprosy; mice
have been caught in the eper wards, pre-
senting the usual characteristic symptoms
of1eprosy. Twelve pheasauts sent to the
resident surgeon for breeding purposes died
in eight months aud the doctor states that he
found clearly defined symptoms of leprosy,
Other instances of similar character were
given and vouched for.