The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-21
Is LEPROSY SPREADING?
Head Of the Marine Hospital Service
Makes Disclosures.
NO STATE HAS LEPER HOSPITAL,
DIR. wyman Discusses the Question Wheth
er the Dread Disease is Contagious or
Infections Merely.

The disclosure Is made by DIR. Walter
Wyman, Supervising Surgeon General OF
the Marine Hospital service, In his annual
report, that leprosy has crept into the
United States and that 1t has Indications
of spreading. A number OF cases, he says.
have come to his notice In various cities
and localities. The disease. II is reported.
Is widely prevalent In islands OF the West
Indies, In South America. and even In
Mexico. Whether the lepers In the United
States came from these countries, or
whether the disease was brought by i'm
migrants from the East. has not been de-
tormined definitely. Nor has IL been de-
termined definitely whether leprosy Is
technically contagious or non-contagious.
But whether II be strictly contagious or
only infectious, like typhoid fever and
other germ diseases. DIR. Wyman says
that In communities where cases OF lepro-
sy exist and are not isolated. q spreading
OF the disease almost invariably follows.
He says, also, that In this country there
are as yet neither leper houses nor spec
ial hospitals for lepers, and that many
victims are allowed to go about undis-
turbed, because the authorities In differ
ent localities have no place to put them.
The presence Of leprosy, however, In
various cities and States OF the United
both as to the danger to be apprehended
and as to means by which it Is to be met,
provided that the danger Of the spread Of
this disease is real. Whatever theories
may be advanced with regard to the con-
tagiousness or non-contagiousness Of lep-
ropsy there can be no doubt that where
Indifference Is manifested as TO the isola-
tion Of patients the disease slowly
spreads, and that careful compulsory iso-
lation is the means by which Its spread Is
checked.
No State possesses a leper hospital.
and on account of the small number OF
patients found In each State II does not
seem probable that special hospitals will
be erected by the State authorities. On
this account 1t is believed that some local
authorities indirectly aid In the spread Of
this disease by their un willingness to fer
ret out and discover cases. Having no
places provided for their reception,
the temptation Is to avoid a decision as to
the ntagiousness Of the disease, and to
officially ignore the presence OF cases.
lest through public clamor they be
compelled to removS them. In this
manner. especially in large cities. cases Of
leprosy may be allowed to exist undis-
turbed. For this reason II Is believed
that a national leper hospital should be
established where such patients can be
taken care OF. The facts relating to the
prevalence OF leprosy In several neig ghbor-
ing countries which have been reported
to this bureau through the several United
States consuls. but which, for state rea-
sons, cannot be published. and the results
of my own observations In Havana, a city
so near the United States, compel me to
the opinion that decisive steps should be
taken, not only TO prevent its introduce
ton. but its spread. Nor do I believe 1t
the part Of wisdom to await larger de-
velooment Of the disease to demonstrate
Its communicability or the necessity for
its suppression.