Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-17
vgNEzueLNs LePERs.
Remarl,nble Facts as to Marriage Among
" the Unfortunate People.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.l

@ the Unfortunate People.
Pittsburgh Dispatch.l
The report on leprosy in Venezuela
made 20 the State Department by f..
Elumacher, Consul at MaricalbO, de-
scrioes &C considerable length the intro-
duction OF the scourge in 1926, when a
sufferer from Ssnto Domingo landed at
Maricaibo and spread the infection. In
the course of three years the evil had
attained such proportions that an island
about four miles distance from the city
was set apart for the isolation OF incura-
bles
1t was not until 1876, however, that a
charitable work among these exiles was
undertaken by number of good women
in MaricaibO. Their efforts in the way
OF better buildings, social observances,
and care have been SO successful as to
haze attracted. wide attention, and THIS
lozlrett0 bids fair TO become the place
OF saclusion Tor the whole OF Venezuela.
ZOE HUMANE TREATMENT.
There are now about 125 patients on
the island. Water-wUrSs have been con-
structed, and abundant supply secures
cleanliness OF persons and quarters, and
the irrigation Of the ground devoted "a
agriculture. The diet is wholesome and
abundant, and the average icost Of the
maintenance and treatment OF each per-
son amounts to about Sl3 in American
money, monthly.
\ comfortable building has been
erected for the use Of employees, while
for tie patients large edi6ce built OF
Generate, forming parallelogram with
a court yard in the centre. IS divided into
separate apartments, plainly but sutii-
GENTLY furnished 4 neat chapel has
been recently built, where every Sunday
religious service is held and the saora.
ments administered 70 those who may So
desire. 8 pleasant feature is the estab'
lishment of cottages with grounds at
tached, in which reside those patients
whose means permit it. Land IS given
free TO any one who is able to erect q
dwelling, and as there are quite mum
Der who possess regular incomes little
homesteads are soon formed, giving the
island q cheerful aspect.
MARRIAGE OF LEPERs.
II was at first much mooted point @.
TO whether marriages should be per
mitted among the patients. IL ha'
always been well understood that q
union between sound and a diseased
person would be liable to result in th,
propagation of diseased ofsprings, bu
il vas believed that marriage between
two undoubted lepers was sure 10 b,
| fruitlcss. SO, after long discussion
the necessary permission was given, anI
q number of weddings were celebrated
For years the theory OF sterility VA
not contadicted 10y experience, a.,
seemed to be about definitely settled
when two births occurred on the island
/ the parents in each case being lepers
Neither Of the children has as yet show
symptoms Of the disease, aud in Marcl
OF. last year one OF them who hal
reached the age Of fourteen years, hayin
passed his whole life on the island wit
his leprous parents, was allowed to re
tnrn to society, after having been for
mally pronounced clean by board o
competent experts.
PUZZLES THE DOCTORS.
This is but one instance OF the puZ
| zling character OF the disease. The gen
eral effect OF these marriages seems T.
! have been to induce more cheerfuluos
and resignation, and to aid gre tly {.
/ the good discipline of the establishment
Although marriages would not be a.
lowed between a sound and a disease
person, yet in the case Of the develop
montof leprosy in one Of a couple ate
marriage the sound consort is prmitte,
TO accompany the other TO the lazaretto
and this has occurred in many instances
With the system OF separate cottage
for those who desire them, the island
beginning TO assume the aspect OF
rural municipality. is extent Is httl'
more than mile square, with good scat
OF which advantage has been taken b.
the well-to-do patients for the cult.yato.
| of various products and the breeding o
goats. The open country has been arti
/ ficlally stocked with game, which Is nov
/ becoming abundant
A rea&ing-room and library are q
their constant disposal, and occasiona
musical entertainments ere furnished d.
the Junta, all of whose efforts are di
rected to the establishment of a yerita
bic homo for the patients. where the
may, as far as possible, forget Their Of
fictions.