Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-29
A WHITE LEPER.
HE EXPECTED HIS TOE TO DROP
OFF LAST WEEK.
A Spaniard at the County Hospital Who
Has the Dread Disease-He Thinks he
is Getting Better.

On the MISSION road, midway between
Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. lis
situated the county hospital. The place
had rather an inviting appearance yes
terlay afternoon when HERALD repor-
ter walked past the flower beds to the
main entrance.
s'That is Jose Gallinan," said DR.. Bull
lard to the HERALD man, as he opened a
door leading to small room in the Sec
ond story of the building. The doctor
and reporter stepped inside the room
and were in the presence, probably, of
the only white leper in Southern Cali
fornia.
"Como esta V. esta dia," remarked
the leper, as Doctor Bullard approached
the bed where Jose Gallinan was sitting
The reporter kept at good distance while
the leper displayed first one leg,
then the other. The right foot. espe-
cially the toe, is mass of sores. The
purplish spots, peculiar to a leper,
could be seen on both his legs and
hands. He has no feeling where the
spots are located. These spots are
usually in line with the distribution Of
some nerve. His eyes are becoming
Opaque from the leprous deposit. At
present only little deposit can be
| noticed in the anterior chamber of the
| eye.
~ am As years DID," said the victim
of the dread disease to the HERALD re-
porter, 81 came to Southern California
| four years ago from Spain, in hopes of
being benefited" ~ Il
"How long have you been afflicted ?'
asked the reporter.
"Six years." was the reply. 81 was
| treated in Europe, but was advised to
come to California. My wife came with
me. was at work until recently at the
Santa Rosa ranch in San Diego county. -
In answering to the question as to
whether he had improved any since
being treated at the county hospital, he
said "mucho grande."
Gallinan was a baker by profession.
He occupies his time by smoking and
reading, and does not appear to be
much concerned on account OF his affiic-
ton. He is not allowed to leave the
| room, and as no one visits him besides
| the doctor and head nurse, except an
occasional inquiring physician, he ex-
hibits considerable pleasure when he is
favored with a caller.
"Gallinan is afflicted with the anaes-
thetic form of leprosy," said DIR. Bull
lard to the HERALD reporter after the
visit to the leper's room. 'This is the
least dangerous of the two forms. The
disease is propagated by the pus from
his toe. The pus is the only thing dan
gerous. We take every precaution, and
either burn or bury it,"
us the disease contagious?" asked
the reporter.
Some doctors do not consider it con-
tagious, while others do. Atthe Vienna
hospital they keep the leprous patients
in the same ward with the other pa
tients. The doctors there do not hesi-
tate to handle the lepers. We are very
particular about handling the patient at
this hospital"
The doctor, in referring to the case OF
Gallnan, said that the worst form may
yet eventuate. "Last week we expect
ed that his right toe would drop off, but
it has healed up very well during the
past week. We have treated him thus
far with Balsam of Peru and Iodoforn.
The purplish spots you noticed on CALI
nan are. at first hyperaesthetic, but
eventually become anaesthetic. He has
improved very much since he came to
the hospital.
Gallinan has good appetite, and
acts like freak at the dime museum
whenever a strange docter visits the
hospital to inspsct his case. He looks
as pleased as Punch, and displays his
sore limbs with considerable alacrity.
The wife OF the afflicted man lives In
Los Angeles, and Gallinan commun
Gates with her only by letter. l.