The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-06
4 SPECTRE TO nn ExoRoIsED.
Lepro-y, witch Has Gained Unexpee,-
Footboids In North nsd south America.


Lsproay, whish Has Gained Un.spse,-d
| Footboid- In North n.d south Ansr,en.
Tho presence OF many lcpers In New Orleans
and In various parts OF Louisiana appears to
| be usually accepted as matter OF course and
to excite but little apprehension. II will be
remembered how. q year or 40 ago. the whole
country was alarmed because lsper was dis
covered in this neighnorhood; how the poor
wretch. a ChinAmsn. was shipped back TO the
Wost. whence he camo: how the West refused
| to receive him. aud he was kept locked in a
box car, and switched about from place to
place until he was somehow lost sight OF.
Then there was great excitement because OF
tho story that doctors had discovered a case OF
loprosy In Philadelphia and refused to dis
close the identity or whereabouts Of the pa
tient. year ago the people OF New Orleans
indul ged In q short scare over the inform alton
that quito number of lepers were at large In
the city and State. working at various trades.
ono even plying the vocation OF barber. Tho
scare spread over tho country. and for q while
1t was demanded that something be done TO
restrict their Rongs about. Then public alton
ton was diverted elsewhere
But that lepers arc abroad in the city and
State yet, attention Is Just called anew. Ler-
rosy exists In several parts OF the rural dis
tricts Of the state. but to what precise extent
10 not known. as no attempt has been made to
separate tho lepers from the rest OF the peo-
pie. Quite u number OF lepers are known to
exist In the city OF New Orleans. living at
large. mixing with tho general public, and
plying their vocstions unhindered. The ply
siciuns and the Board OF Health have several
times called the matter to the attention of the
authorities. and tho Legislature did once pass
law apparently plating the esta blish-
ment OF a hospital where lcpers could he sug-
regnted but no provisi ons were made for car
rylng 1t into effect and nothing has beon done.
At the occurrence OF one Of the periodical
PUBLIC seares soms time ago the SMALLPOX
use Of ispers; but these unfortunate beings
may go or stay to please themselves. Some
ten lepers have been staying In this hospital
for several months, but no care or medical at
tention Is provided Tor them. Indeed there 10
nothing provided but shelter. and little 81
hs ran the roo There ar. "na
attendants or guards. and the lepers comeapd
marketing and cooking for the company stsyD
ing there. He. OF course goes 70 the public
tG mixes WIN 5ho SsoEd: there aud on
dTs s:ds' take sSss ] sSsSr ' tss sH.
dition OF affairs is one Of great danger, mot
country. The leper question has existed IN
Louisiana for some sixty years. but no real at
tenrt atso.utlon mas ever been made: One New
rouse the auth orities to some salutary action.
But the leavepinG power OF public anxiety is
seem probable that anything will be done In
this direction toward tho public's safety.
relating to lepers exists In Jamaica. In Dutch
Guiana; and in many other regions In this
are very plentiful in Jamaica, and they mix
with the people without let or hindrnnce. ply |
Ing ell manner Of OF trades and ID yoeHtions even
and keeping butcher shops and bakeries. The |
Government has provided leper hospital at |
dTed or more lepers, But there 10 no restric- |
tloR on their coming and going as they please. |
and. as Is tie nature OF the average Jsmaican |
negro. they are well pleased to have soiue one |
provide for them ana nus H., enable them to live
potion TO 20 TO see their friends. or to visit |
Kingston TO see the sights; they simply go. and
tSoughtiai people Of the Island periodiesIiy
try to secure some proper treatment OF the |
Prevailing typsin the tropics Is sssS going.
and nothing is done.
leper station, at Batavia. In surinAm, bur isola-
tion OF the lepers Is not enforced. British
duians has lspsr hospital nH.I which has an
too. discipline as to segregation is lax. and the
lspsrs cP p,U and ~ EEsIslty mueh as t6sI
the West Indies and in many parts OF Central
and South Anerlra and the authorities In al
exsrciss OF control over the sufferers from The
disease and il is allowed to be spread Hnhin.
dercd. And 1t Is spreading at an alarming
rate "A fact well Attested though little hooded
DR. Myman. Surgeon GenerAl OF the Marine
Hospital service has said that there are indi-
cations that lsprosy is spreading n the United
States. lie has noted the existence OF a mum
her OF cases In various cities and country dis
tricts aud also the unWillinRness OF the local
authorities 10 properly deal with such eassL
often because the lsperA II their existence
were generally known, would become Q terror |
and burden 10 the community. He has rec
Commended that q national leper hospital be
sstHblished 70 which lspers could be sent from |
All parts OF the Union, and where they would |
IL properly cared for and thereby the safety |
Of the whole people would be guarded.
DR. Wyman said In recent report that the |
facts In his possession concerning the dread |
disease compelled him to the opinion that de-
clsiye stems should Immediately Re taken 10 |
pTsyent not alone It's Introduction from the
countries to the south. but its spread from |
Eases now here. and he did not think Il the
part OF wisdom 70 await for any larger deyel-
opment Of the disease to demonstTGt the me-
eessity Tor It's suppression. Perhaps a pros
peet Of being entirely I'D Of their lspefs hy
their removal to a nation al hospital might In
teFest the people ~ Louisiana Ia DR.. WJmAn's
scheme. At any rate. in yisE OF the expert
enee ~ other and nslRhborng countries, Ii
would seem that the segregation OF sufferers
from Isprosy should be made matter Of grave
and reasonable public concern.
BrookIyn Letter CaEsIsrs DIas