The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-25
Lenrosv Louisiana.

A matter of moment before the Louisi-
ana legislature is the menace of leprosy.
| There are said to be more than 100 lepers
in the city of New Orleans, and as many
more in the state outside of the city. Ac-
cording 10 the New Orleans States, the
care for the lepers and their isolation-or,
rather, the lack of bOth-is disgraceful
and inhuman. OF the city lepers, about a
dozen are sequestered in a hospital under
care of physician and attendants, who
are prone to neglect their charges almost
entirely. These dozen lepers, accord
ing to a recent report Of the
Parish Medical Society, are "hud-
died together Unfortunately in par
titione6 shed, without proper treatment
and with no hygienic care as pretense
of sanitary quarantine" The States
charges the condition Of affairs to ring
rule in politics.
A bill is before the legislature having
as its purpose the isolation and proper
care of the lepers. The bill proposes
commission of seven, four mem ers to be
appointed by the mayor of New Orleans
and three by the governor, to have charge
of the work, and makes appropriations of
$1,000 with which to build hospital and
$4,000 to be used in support of the lepers.
One clause of the bill, and one which
meets with general disapproval on the
part of the press, is to the effect that the
board shall let the care of the lepers out
by contract, but requires no guarantee
or surety that the contractor will
perform his duties properly. The
anti-slavery clause of the federal con-
stitution is being quoted against this pro
vision. II is argued that the lepers, while
a menace to the public health. are not
convicts, and cannot be sold to the
highest bidder"
While the bill is pending and the poll
ticians are tinkering its phraseoloRy,
hundreds of lepers are mingling with
the community, sharing seats at the
theater and at the public restaurants, and
are imperfectly cared for, or are neglected
in their treatment in the language of a
local paper.
AS to the disease itself the report of
DR.. Isadore Dyer, of the Parish Medical
Society-which seems to be the basis for
arguments on the bill-goes on to say:
"Leprosy is a germ disease, and the very
rarity of directly traced contagion is the
purest evidence of its insidious develop
ment. Slow of incubation, it may re-
quire decade or two to manifest the eff
feet of germ accidentally or innocently
acquired at the caravansary, drinking
fountain sleeping car, or other public in
stitution." DR.. Dyer has had twenty
five cases under examination
since October, 1892 Ten were
of persons born in New Orleans.
four were born elsewhere in Louisiana,
and of the remainder only five were of
foreign birth. The doctor says a negress
leper may be seen every day begging in
Dryades street, and he asks: How
often does this woman, handling the
money given to her, send the blight of
contagion through the community"
Summing up his observation, DIR. Dyer
says; "Leprosy is of frequent occur
renee in Louisiana in all of it's types. 1t
has rapidly increased in the past decade,
when its slow incubation is considered.
1t is undoubtedly endemic in this state
1t is a menace TO the entire population OF
this and neighboring states. -