The Lamar register., 1891-12-05
THAT LEPRosY SCARE
THE DISEASE HAS INCREASED
RAPIDLY LATELY.
rh"re Is Much Reason for Apprehension
- the Dreadful MsIady Is Con-
tagious-Ihe Belief that
II Is Incurable

Leprosy has increased so rapidly in
Europe during the last quarter Of "A
century that eminent medical men ex-
press belief that the population In
general is becoming seriously exposad
to the possible ravages OF that terri
bic disease The scare has extended
TO the New World. 1t IL positively
asserted thai in tropical America
and even among the Creoles OF LouisI-
ana the Chinese Of California ,bs
scandinavlans OF Minnesota and Wis
consin, and the Mormon converts from
the Sandwich Islands at Salt Lake. the
disease now has hold thai Is likely
10 be most difficult TO overcome.
Some distinguished physicians com
plain that the attitude of medical men
toward leprosy has long been unscien-
uhc superstitious and professionally
discreditab.e, says the n Y. Ledger.
they having assumed that iis causes
are undiscoyerable and It's sources
irrcmediable- In word. the loath-
some disease has been looked upon as
a direct aud incurable iuhictlon from
the hand OF God, against which, there
AoEH IL Is vain 10 struggle
The superstiuous belief has come
down through the ages. In Europe
and America leprosy Is populnrly sup
posed TO be n disease peculiar 10 .,Bi-
bic lands - The prevailing ideas about
IL have been derived from the rigid
Mosaic laws a. 10 lcprosy. and from
the barbarous treatment OF lepers In
Palestine. When after the first Cru
ssdes leprosy spread like an epidemic
through Europe efforts were made to
extend the ministering spirit OF Christi
anity into the treatment OF It's count.
less victims. But Notwithstanding
these humane efforts. the lot of the
iopcr was pitiable and distressing be.
yond description. He was set apart
from his fellow beings, and was com
pletely and forever an outcast from the
world He was considered both legally
and politically as 4 dead person; a
shovelful Of earth was cast upon his
body, tho ceremonial for the burinl Of
the dead Was pronounced oTer him,
and masses were said for the benefit Of
his soul But no attempt was made TO
cure him; indeed such an effort would
have been considered impious in high
quarters a. being an audncIous at
tempt TO contend against the fa' Of
God
The influence OF these superstitions
has largely prevailed down to the
present time Bot now, members OF
the medical profession In all parts Of
the world are throwing il OF. The
Leading physicians OF America are
completely emsncipaied from It. They
have taken purely scientific attitude
toward lcprosy They say that ike
every other disease. loprOsy has it,
causs-. and that those causes can be
discovered and obyiated Satisfactory
progress has already been made in this
direction. No cure for lsprosy. ouce
.eaied in the human system. has yet
been found; nor can person who has
Inherited the taint b. surely saved
from It's development; but means have
oeen discovered for preventing the
rpreAd OF the disease among persons
Eho are not tainted with it. Among
The chief OF these means is the absolute
ISOLATION OF lePers in asylums and rc-
.rex,s specially provided for that pur-
pose. This mode Of treatment is i'm
oera;ively insisted upon because II is
nov the settled conviction OF the best
authorities that loprosy Is contagious;
that Il can be impaired by personal
.ontact aud is sometimes oommuni-
.ated 20 un;alnted individuals by their
familiar association with those wh;.
are afflicted with IT, The truth OF this
.heory was verified by the romantic
saso OF Father Damien. the young
Belgian priest who. several years ago
.ook up his abode In the leper
community OF MoiokaL IN the
Sandwich Islands for the purpose
Of ministeriug 10 Its afflicted
members. Father Damien's deyo-
don and tragic fate arrested the atten-
ton and excited the sympathy of the
civilized world. When he entered
upon his self-sacriieing work he was
In perfect health and in the full vigor
Of young manhood He took every
precaution TO escape the disease, but his
association with is victims subjecting
him to its contagious influence, 1t at
tackled and overcame him. and he died
The .leper's lingering and miserable
death.
1t is authoritatively alleged that In
many OF our cities there are lepers
now running at large and mingling
with the population. This Is the main
source OF danger; it is on this fact that
the leprosy scare is chiefly founded;
and Il is to the removal of tins source
Of imminent peril that efforts should
be first directed.