The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-08-17

seen In the suburbs OF Jerusalem ant
Damascus scores of those cast out for thi:
disease and inhabiting caverns ant
tombs--beaten Of the elements, living
Oh the coin which passersby may fling
to them, while day by day they are rot
ting alive. Let us thank God that those
smjrten with incurable cores in the
Sandwich Islands nave homes and
schools and churches and food and
nurses and alterations and parterres OF
sweetest flowers under arches of bluest
skies.
The Story of William Ragsdale, Leper.
No respecter of persons is this phys
ical calamity. William Ragsdale, pop
ular lawyer, was sent there. He was elo-
quent, both in Hawaiian and English,
and could make his audiences weep and
laugh ard shiver and resolve. He had
the satire of Junius and the impas-
stoned abandon Of an O'Connell. No
one suspected he was leper before the
day when he sent letter to the au-
thorities surrendering himself and say
ing that on the morrow he would go
aboard the steamer for Molokai. He
spent the morning of the day of his de-
parture in riding around to say goodby
to his friends and just before the hour
of sailing came down to the boat, his
neck adorned with gardenia, and turned
around and made farewell address,
closing with the words, Aloha, may
God bless you, my brothers!' Hundreds
of the people and a glee club accom-
panied him to the boat, and they rent
the air with lamentations as the boat
swung off from its moorings. He took
a Bible and some lawbooks with him
into his dreadful exile, and the prayers
of churches were offered that he might
have courage and peace in the remain
ing days of his earthly tarrying. Queen
Emma cousin, Hon. Mr.. Kaco, was also
sent to Molokai, and there was no pow
er in his royal connection 70 keep him
outside of that island Mrs. Napela,
of high social circle, had her cottage Of
enforced exile Oh that island of sepul-
cheers. A legislator of the Hawaiian Is
lands is there closing his life. He was
probably good legislator in the day
Of his health, but I cannot help think
ing what good thing it would be if all
the leprous Legislators of the earth could
be put in some island by themselves.
Such Punishment would be mighty
out at Albany, Harrisburg and
legislatures, state and ma
ional
The United States government could
afford to provide such Molokai, and
jhe moral lepers sent there could have
heir legislature and Congress and board
If aldermen and army and navy all of
he same blotch But while the Hawai-
an legislator could be found out and !
ent to the SO called elsie of precipices" !
he moral leper is not SO easily desig- |
lated, because he has the blotch not so |
ouch on his forehead as ON his heart
What every state and nation now needs
J Molokai, or isle of lepers.
LepEosy Diagnosed.
Conversation about kprosy with a
primer member of the board of health
Of the Hawaiian Islands revealed to me
he following facts:
Question--In what part of the system
oes leprosy begin it's work?
Answer-It attacks the nerve centers.
Q.-I thought it was disease of the
lood?
A.-No. 1t begins with the nerves,
nd just as the girdling of the trunk of
tree first shows it's whitening results
n the tip end of the long branch of the
rec so leprosy is first apt to show itself
n the paralysis or doubling up of the
title finger, or in the toe, or in the lobe
f the ear. Sometimes there appears up
n the body shining surface, and it is
Prick it with pin, and
here is no sting. All the rest of the
atient's body may be in perspiration,
ut that spot remains dry. Sometimes
II the signs of physical disorder disap-
ear, and the disease seems gone. Then
lere will come a leprous fever, and that
ill throw out blush or efflorescence
nat more emphatically announces the
rogress of the disease. Then all signs
skin disturbance disappear, but after
le following leprous fever the case is
OiSO O4iou bSlOlSs ~ GULL I6bISdb VI |
le disease is followed by a more de-
ded advance.
els it painful?
A.-No. That is one of the mercies.
rom the first assault of the plague to
le hour of death there is an absence of
hysical suffering.
Q.-But is there no mental depres-
on?
A-Oh, yesl At the first acquaint-
ace of the fact that the disease is on
i'm horrid gloom settles upon the
ltient, but after awhile slight hope
recovery is born, and the incipient
per tries all forms of cure, and no
I'm is so absurd that will not recon-
end itself as worthy of experiment.
nd then all the time the patient thinks
is something besides leprosy
Q.-When a victim of the disease is
st charged with having the plague, ,
ould think he would resent it?
Ayes, and the English law makes
a hbelous case for the courts if a man ;
unjustly charged with being leper. J;
0ards of health have to be very care
i in the work of segregation.
No II Al. 4.