The daily critic., 1890-10-15

has always been well understood that a
union between a sound and a diseased
person would be liable TO result In the
propagation Of diseased offspring but,
until the occurrence of the births re-
ferred 10, II was believed that two un-
doubted lepers could not proCreate:
and, In these two exceptional cases,
81 would be inclined 10 ask whether
a mistake may not have been made In
the diagnosis of one or the other Of the
parents, confoundiDg with true leprOsy
some other physical faint. which,
though similar 10 appearance, may be
different In kind. BE that as II may,
neither one Of the two children has as
yet shown symptoms Of the disease.
and In March OF last year one Of them,
who had reached the age of IA years.
having passed his whole life on the
island with his leprous parents, was
allowed 10 return TO society, after hay-
ing been formally pronounced clean by
d board OF competent experts. This is
but one instance Of the puZZling char
acteT OF the disease The general ef-
feet Of these marriages has, no doubt.
been TO induce more cheeTfulness aud
resignation and 10 sdd greatly 10 the
good discipline Of the establishment
-
Mr.. Plumacher explains that, al.
though marriages would not be allowed
between a sound and diseased person,
yet, in the case Of the development Of
leprosy in one Of a couple after mar
mage, the sound consort is permitted to
accompany the other TO tie lazaretto,
aPd this has occurred in many Instances.
With the system Of separate cottages for
those who desire them, the island is be-
ginning 10 assume the aspect OF rural
municipality. Its extent is little more
than a mile square. with good soil Of
which advantage has been taken by the
we'll To- do patients for the cultivation OF
various products and the breeding of
goats. The territory has been aTtidcially
stocked With game, which Is now be-
coming abundant. and nothing seems 10
have been left undOne 10 secure the
comfort and welfare Of these unforlu-
mates
A reading room and library are al
their constant disposal and occasional
musical entertainments are furnished
by The iunia, an Of whose efforts are
diTecied 10 The establishment Of a yeri-
table home for the patients where they
may, as far as possible, forget their
aif.ictions Weekly visits Of relatives
and friends are permitted, which are
looked forward 10 with eager anticina-
ti0n, and The discipline generally Is
mild and iudiCious, punishment being
meied out with justice and humanity
10 evil doers, a proportion of whom
must naturally be found In every COM
muuily, even one of lepers.
The Consul has Investigated the
character Of the disease with consider
able care, and has arrived al some in
teEesung conclusions, especially as re-
CARDS the question Of contagiOu lie
says The disease ASSUMES various
phases, the most common type being
The iuberCulOus, manifested in distorted
features enormous uendaut ears aud
lips and au abundance of exaggerated
wrinkles have seen children of both
sexes, OF ~ Ur lf years OF age, with the
features and bearing Cf CctoEeuariaus
and some 0t the sadlest eases are of This
class. AS the disease progresses the
eXtIemities are attacked and slough of
The body becomes scaly. aud, "a. times
covered with ulcers, aul the faculties
of sight and hearing are frequently
entirely destroyed
There has been much difference of
opinion as t9 whether OF not the disease
IS contagious and, although he great
majority ~ .5ymeu who have not spg-