The record-union., 1893-06-20
TEE LEPER CASE.
Health Officer Nichols Report Thereon
to the Trustees.
He Says There Was Unnecessary Fuss
Made Over 1.-THE Patient IS
Provided For.

Health officer H. L. Nichols appeared
before the City Trustees yesterday and
made the following report regarding the
case of Mrs. Garcia, the Mexican woman
who was lately discovered to be in the
first stage of leprosy:
OFFICE CITY BOARD OF HEALTH,
SACRAMENTO, June II, 1898.
TO the Honorable Board OF city IrNS-
tees: In answer to your communication
of the 18th inst, stating that complaint
had been made that case OF leprosy eA-
listed on X street in this city, ana a re-
quest that l would, if advisable, report
the circumstances to you, submit the
following:
DIR. Gardner, on the eve OF his depart
ure for the East, referred TO me one OF
his patients, Mexican woman residing
on X street. between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets. thought to he case
of leprosy. l visited her, and upon eX-
animation and inquiry into her previous
history and residence, was satlsfIed
that it was case of incipient tubercular
leprosy, but not infectious, or in any way
dangerous in its present condition.
/ advised her of her situation and, at
her request, prescribed for her, believing
it to be amenable to treatment. Some
one, however, took 1t upon hlmSeu 10 re-
port the same to a sensational evening
paper, III WHICH, d ldlSO anu EASotAJ CAo5
gerated account of it was given, doing
great injustice to the woman and causing
Unnecessary alarm to some OF the neigh
bors, one of whom appeared before the
Board of Health at its last meeting, APP
parently greatly distressed at the close
proximity of the Mexican woman ana
desiring her removal.
stated the nature of the case to the
board, giving my opinion that there was
no cause for alarm or necessity Tor lsola-
ton further than what then existed. But
that the woman, who was dependent upon
her labor tor the support OF herself and
boy, had. by such isolation and notOrlety,
been deprived of such means OF support,
leaving her in a destitute condition.
would have to request the county authorl-
ties to provide for her support or furnish
means of transportation to some more
hospitable county. The other members
OF the board were of the opinion thai
such action would be proper.
The persecution and annoyance to the
poor woman was kept up, and l applied
to Supervisor Miller, Chairman OF the
Hospital Committee, also to President
Morrison, who willingly consented to dc
what appeared best in the matter.
Several ladies and gentlemen interested
themselves in the woman's behalf, one
offering her an asylum at her home IN Z
distant country. 50, through the kind
ness of these friends and the means fur
nished by the supervisors, she was en-
abled to depart.
That the woman is away from her op
preston, am glad. But that it is posi-
BILE in a civilized community for al
afflicted, inoffensive woman, III no wa!
dangerous to the public, to be driver
from her home is shame and dis
grace to humanity. And if the insti
gators of such persecution were possessed
OF one spark OF manhood, instead o
boasting OF their cowardly action, the.
would hide their heads in shame. Re
specially, III. l.. NICHOLS,
Secretary Board of Health.