New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-14
TWO MORE LEPERS FOUND.
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THE vICTIMss
SENT TO BLACKwELL's ISLAND. But RETURNED
ON THE DEMAND OF THEIR FELLOW
CHINAMEN.

ON THE DEMAND OF THEIR FELLOW
CHINAMEN
Physicians at the Charity Hospital on Black
wells Island Yesterday sent report to DR.. Cyrus
Edison, of the Health Department stating that
Ong Now Toy and Tsang Ding, the two Cinnamon
who were sent to the hospital Monday, were
suffering from leprosy. Ong Nov Toy was
fan-tan gambler at No. "a Mott-st. Dr. Edison
examined him on Sunday, and suspected that the
man was leper but the diagnosis was made
dificnlt by the fact that the gambler had been
suffering for two years from disease other than
leprosy, which had covered his face and portions
of his body with LESSONS of a kind not uncommon
in leprosy.
On Monday Tsang Ding, another Chinese
gambler, who lived at No 81 Mottst, was found
to be suffering from similar complication OIL
diseases He was examined by Inspectors Doty
and Blauvet, who suspected that he was leper,
bnt could not be sure When DR.. Edison sent
the two Cinnamon to Backwclrs Island he sent
to the physicians of the hospital diagnosis OF
leprosy in complication with the other disease IN
each case, and the report which he received yes
terday confirmed the diagnosis.
Dr. Edison said yesterday: Il did not thinK
we were justified in making public announce
ment on Monday that the two Cinnamon were
lepers. because there was difficulty in making
correct diagnosis, but we sent them to the hosplmi
where they could be observed under favoraole
circumstances, ard the report Of the physicians
at the hospital leaves no room for doubt"
DR. Edison learned in the afternoon that Tsang
Ding had been permitted to leave the hospital
and 90 back to Mott-st., and that Ong Now Toy
would be allowed to return to the city this morn
ing On Tuesday letter was sent to President
Wilson of the Health Board by Booraem q Hamil-
ton, the lawyers at No. l6O Broadway, saying
that they had been retained TO look after the In
terests Of the two Cinnamon and lnquirlng py
what authority the men had been sent to Black
wells Island when they were not known TO ne
lepers An answer was sent that the Cinnamon
were believed to be suffering from leprosy, and
that they went to the hospital voluntarily. Mr..
Wilson did not know who had retained the law
firm Before noon yesterday several Cinnamon
from Mott-st., who were friends of Tsang Ding.
went to the Charity Hospital and demanded
his release The physicians there said that he
had not been committed to the hospital but
had gone there of his own accord by the adVlce
of DR.. Edison. Tsang Ding said he wished to go
away with his friends, and the doctors SAID they
had no authority TO detain him. lie accord
ingly left the hospital with his friends crossed
to the city at l p. M, and went back TO Ills
former home in Mott-st.
Friends of Ong Now Toy then went TO the noS-
pital to demand his release, and the physicians
said he could leave the hospital in the morning.
A messenger was sent to the hospital by DIR. Edison
in the evening and he brought back note from
the warden. saying that friends of the two China
men had demanded their release and they could
not he detained DIR. Edison went TO consult with
President Wilson in the Chelsea in West Twenty
third-st. To Tribune reporter Mr.. Wilson said
the Health Board would soon decide what should
lie done with the lepers. Commissioner Bryant
WAS ont Of the city. he said. and was expected TO
be away for about two weeks. He was not pre-
pared to say what might be done with the lepers
i'm Dr. Bryant's absence. There is said to be some
difference of opinion on that subject between
the two Commissioners.
Dr. Edson probably expressed Mr.. Wilson's
views last evening when he said Il do NOT
think that epers should be permitted to mingie
with Cinnamon in the city. Leprosy is an in
fictitious disease to which Chinanen are more
susceptible than white people. Probably some
means can be employed to place the lepers in
some institution, unless they can be sent back
to China"
Charity Commissioner Sheehy said yesterday
that he did not see how lepers could be kept in
the Charity Hospital unless they were willing TO
stay there If the Health Board thought that
leprosy was a contagious disease. he thought the
place for lerers on North Brother Island