Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-13

OF better buildings, social obServances
and care have been 50 successful as %
have attracted wide attention, and this
lazaretto bids fair 10 become the place
OF seclusion for the whole OF Venezuela.
There are now about l25 patients on
the island. Waterworks have been con-
structed, and abundant supply secures
cleanliness OF persons and quarters.
and the irrigation OF the ground de-
voted to agriculture. The diet is whole
some and abundant, and the average
cost of the maintenance and treatment
Of each person amounts TO about Sl3 in
American money, monthly.
A comfortable building has been
erected for the use of the employees. while
for the patients large edifice built of
concrete, forming 4 parallelogram with
court yard in the center is divided in
TO separate apartments, plainly but
sufficiently furnished. A neat chapel
has been recently built, where every
Sunday religious service is held and the
SacramcntS administered TO those who
may so desire. a pleasant feature is
the establishment of cottages with
grounds attached, in which reside those
patients whose means permit ii. Land
is given free to any one who is able to
erect Il dwelling, aud as there are quite
number who possess regular incomes
little homcstcadS are soon formed, Civ
ing the island a cheerful aspect.
II was at first a much moOtcd point as
to whether marriages should be permit
ted among the patients. 1t has always
been we'll understood that union be-
tween 4 sound and q diseased person
would be liable to result in the propaga-
tion of diseased oifsprings, but il was
believed that marriage between TWO un-
doubted lepers was sure 10 be fruitless.
So, after long discussion, the BcccS-
sary permission was given, and a num-
Der of weddings were celebrated.
For years the theory Of Stcrility was
not contradlcted by experience, and
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 shown symptoms Of the disease,
and in March Of last year, one Of them
who had reached the age OF II years,
having passed his whole life on the
island with his leprous parents. was al
lowed To return 10 society, after having
been formally pronounced clean by
board Of competent experts.
This is but one instance OF the pulling
character Of the disease. The general
effect Of these marriages seems to have
been To induce more cheerfuness and
resignation, aud to add greatly to the
good discipline OF the establishment.
Although marriages would not be al
lowed between a sound and a diseased
person, yet, in the ease OF the develop
ment of lcprOSy in one Of a couple, after
marriage, the sound consort Is permit
ted to accompany the other to the lazar-
etto, and this has occurred In many In
stances.
With the system of separate cottages
for those who desire them, the island Is
beginning to assume the aspect of a ru-
raj municipality. Its extent Is little
more than mile square, with good soil,
Of which advantage has been taken by
the well-to-do patients for the cultiva-
ton OF various products and the breed
ing of goats. The open country has
been artifcially stocked with game,
which is now becoming abundant.
A reading room and library are at
their constant disposal, and occasional
musical entertainments are furnished
by the Junta, all Of whose efforts are
directed 10 the establishment Of veri-
table home for the patients, where they
NAV. &c faI as possible, forget their af-
tlictiOnS.