The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-11-05
=
MALADY FIGHTS hALADY,
The Bacillus Of Cancer Pilted against
That Of LGprOSy.
Fierce But Intellectual War.
Leprasy'S Berutiiui Victim saved III
Last by New MotIOd--K"pt In
Tank of Oxygen Gas and
Cured.
Fierce But Intellectual War
(From the San Francisco EXaminer.)

The hope of scientists is tina! they
may discover the natural enemy of
each disease germ, and by intro
ducing it into the blood the disease
may be destroyed. Koch, Virchow,
Pasteur and others are laboring in
this field, and, while they may meet
with many failures in the practical
application of their ideas they should
not be condemned for failure, because
every mistake points out stumbling
blocks to be avoided and really are
the stepping-stones to success. What
of it if Koch's cure for tuberculosis
did not fulfill its promises? asks a
writer in the Albany Telegram. 1t
was start in the right direction, and
out of it some time there will GER
tainly come something of benefit to
the human race. 1t may be years
before the value of Koch's labors will
be appreciated by the too envious
members of an altogether too conser-
vative profession, but what he has
done for medicine will have justice
done to it at no distant day.
The recent Investigations of Vir-
chow with the microscope have shown
beyond doubt that there is bacillus
of leprosy. 1t resembles in many
respects the bacillus of tuberculosis,
but is about one sixteenth larger.
This has raised an important discus
sion among doctors and scientists as
to the possibility of there being q
relationship between the two diseases.
They have both been classed among
the incurable diseases, and are about
the last of the list to be traced to
the bacillus. With this fact well
authenticated, so that there cannot
be any dispute about it, scientists
will be put on the right track for the
cure of the disease. Leprosy is the
most peculiar disease on the list. 1t
has been known as the wave disease.
This name comes from its history. 1t
was a disease well known in Biblical
times, when it was very prevalent.
Then after the Christian era it died
out almost completely and remained
quiet for several centuries. 1t broke
out again in the sixth century and
there was hardly a hamlet in Europe
or Asia that did not have its leper.
1t did not get over the channel into
England until the middle of the last
century, and then it held high car
nival among the poorer classes. 1t
invaded the home of the rich as well,
but not in as great degree.
THERE WERE CHARMED HOUSES EVERY
WHERE
Established, and lepers were seques-
tered as If the very sight of them
would breed contagion. Their dis
ease was believed TO be contagious,
and charms were worn by every one
to ward off the disease. The disease
died out in few years in England,
and on the Continent the pesthouses
were closed and leprosy was forgot
ten. In the signs of the present the
expert students of the diseases of the
world profess to see that another
wave of leprosy is coming and will
in a few years be at its height and
the disease be found in every com
munity. This country, although it
is out of the real leprOsy belt, will
certainly feel its power. Scientists
are at a loss to explain this rise and
fall of leprosy, particularly as there
is wide difference of opinion as to
its being contagious. There are
eminent men upon both sides of the
controversy, and each side has plenty
of facts 10 support its position.
The best opinion on the subject is
that the disease is caused by spread
of the bacillus of leprosy in some
way that has not yet been discovered.
1t is not matter of diet, condition,
age, sex or method of living. Dur
ing the last year there have been
more cases of leprosy found in this
country than nthe last fifty years, and
the number seems TO be slowly in
creasing. The Mckinley bill cannot
keep it out, and quarantine regula-
tions are powerless to prevent it
from coming into the country. This |
horrible disease broke down the bar
riers of wealth and luxury and staked |
into the household of Charles d. |
Richards, the prominent tea broker.
1t of course attacked the falrest
member OF his flock, his favorite
daughter Louise. How she ever cot
the disease must remain mystery,
until, at least, everything that at
present is unknown be known.
The finest tea that comes TO this
market was used in Mr.. Richards
family, and Miss Louise was in the
habit OF eating it without being
cooked 1t is possible that the bacil-
lus of leprosy may have been in the
tea and the young woman, by eating
it, absorbed it into her system The !
disease developed with even greater
rapidity than in the Asiatic and |
within the period of u year she had |
The leonlne face and her hands, arms |
and legs were covered with foul
ulcers, There were nodues on her |
back, which was spotted with green
patches and promised soon to break .
into ulcers, Her mind was all right |
and the nature ~ her disease was /
kept from her The best physicians ,