The record-union., 1893-05-24
4 HEAVY blow
Suffered by the Hitherto Successful
Tamale Industry.
A Female Purveyor to the Elite of
Society Found to be Afflicted
With Leprosy.

The tamale industry in this city, which,
to judge from the number of vendors it
employs, is thriving one, is likely TO
suffer heavy blow from recent develop
ments, which show that a woman en-
gagged in the propagation OF the myste-
rious compound has the leprosy.
The afflicted woman is a Mrs. Garcia.
who for number of years has con-
Quoted one of the most reputable and
high-toned tamale emporiums in this
city, which is located Oh the north side OF
x street, between Thirteenth and Four
Jeenth.
Mrs. Garcia has done a 1ourishing
business. receiving the patronage of the
most fastidious and refined tamale cpl
cures in the city, being in fact the tamale
compiler for the effete and wealthy.
Owing to the fact that the Garcia brand
had acquired a substantial reputation, the
compiler OF them was accustomed 10
charge prices far in advance OF the ordI-
nary ten-cent variety, and no one had the
temerity to question either their contents
or pedigree.
The fonder patrons of the peppery pre-
paratlon had acquired such highly edu-
Gated palate that they could collar Gar
cia tamale anywhere and eat it by moon
light, or even in the dark, without faith,
prayer or conscience, and never SWerYe.
Mrs Garcia has recently been troubled
with an annoying skin disease which
broke out upon her face and arms, and
she called in a physician after trying vari-
Gus remedies without avail. The physi-
clan soon discovered in her ailment indi-
cations of that dread disease, leprosy,
in its earlier stage, but to be sure that his
diagnosis was correct, the physician con-
suited with several other medicos.
Without hesitation Mrs. Garcia's case
was pronounced by the physicians to be
tubercular leprosy, and the case was
called to the attention Of Health Officer
Dr. II. l.. Nichols yesterday.
DR.. Nichols at once visited Mrs. Garcia
and investigated, and when seen by a
RECORD UNION reporter last evening he
said that Mrs. Garcia was evidently af-
tlicted with tubercular lerosy.
There is a bare possibility" said DIR.
Nichols, that Mrs. Garcia's case may be
one of some other disorder, but it is
probably case OF tubercuIar leprosy, not
far advanced, and at present confined to
the face, forehead and torearms OF the
patient"
Mrs. Garcia is Mexican woman, aged
IS or 10 years of age. She says she left
Mexico eight years ago, having resided
IN Sacramento for the past i've years.
She has no knowledge of ever having
come in contact with the disease, al
though she states that when she was a
child she knew of leper, wealthy
woman, living in her native town. She
says also that her husband, who died
number of years ago, had some sus-
picious or peculiar spots on his arms, but
was never troubled or concerned about
them.
DR.. Nichols stated further that the
woman had not been making tamaIes
N ifs nj efv
was no liberation, and hence no danger
OF anyone becoming infected from her.
lie did not deem it necessary to cause
her to be isolated, but says he will keep
her under surveillance and watch the
case closely. He believed the disease
could be cured if taken in its earlier
stages, and Instanced the case of a Chi
nose whom he believed he had cured.
There is no occasion for alarm what
ever" said the doctor, ''and, as / said, it
is possible that it is not case Of leprosy
If 1t is, at its present stage there is
scarcely a possibility of infection, and
Will not be unless liberation ensues, and
then only by direct contact"