The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-05-22
EVENING SESSION.

Present-Drs. J. S. McGrew, presi-
dent, McGettigen, Oliver, Cooper, En-
erson, Rodgers, Myers and Alvarez.
DR.. Myers read compilation of cases
of leprosy. The paper was not original,
DR.. Myers stating that he had taken
the subject matter of his paper from
the New York Medical Journal. The
author repudiated the statement that
leprosy is contagious. 1t was reported
that 500 cases existed in New York, and
this was refuted. The author said there
might be two or three cases there, but
no bad results could follow.
On motion of DR.. Emerson the paper
was laid on file to be used if found ad-
Yisable.
DR.. Alvarez said that in Norway the
belief is that leprosy is contagious. This
is the view of the great Hansen. This
authority says leprosy is not hereditary
and cannot be communicated without
leprosy baccili DR.. Alvarez never saw
child under three and a half years
of age suffering from the disease. Here
in Hawaii we have leprosy spreading
among the foreigners. Out of 1000 Am
erican men, five were on Molokai; out of
900 British subjects there were also
five, so that it will not be overdrawing
it to say that one per cent. of the Am
erican and British population are lep
ers. If leprosy was to break out in
London there would be a good sized
laZaretto there. l never saw but one,
but there are lepers in the Eastern
States appearing frequently at the elm
les, but in almost every instance the
patients came from these islands The
foreigners here who contract the dis
ease go away; if they did not there
would be more sent to Molokai.
Dr. Oliver wanted to know what the
speaker meant by contagion.
DR.. Alvarez related the case of an
Irishman who went to Norway and af
ter being away several years returned
and lived and slept with his brother
for two years. Then the leper died and
his brother wore the clothes of the
leper. He soon developed leprosy and
the supposition was that he contracted
the disease.
DR.. Oliver gave a very interesting
talk on the subject, and gave it as his
opinion that the disease is contagious
by incubation.
DR.. Emerson stated that he had stud
led the disease from every source. He
thought leprosy was contracted through
kissing more than every other way. 1t
is strange fact that leprosy predomi-
mates in women over men at the ratio
of five to three.
DR.. Alvarez said in his calculations
he had left women out altogether, and
for good reasons. He knew of very few
cases where virtuous women contracted
leprosy. 1t was on the same basis that
fewer women were drowned at sea than
men, for the reason that they do not go
to sea. Virtuous women do not go where
leprosy exists.
DR.. Emerson asked DR.. Alvarez if the
leprosy bacillus could be cultivated.
This was answered in the negative.
DR.. McGrew-I have a case to state
which happened in either 1878 or 70.
1t was when they were gathering I'D
patients to take to Molokai Among
the number was an old native who had
developed leprosy. His son, who was
stout, 1.-THE young man, had worked for
me about two years. Before leaving for
Molokai the old man left as a present
for his son fancy red blanket. Six or
seven months after that the son showed
signs of leprosy, and if he is not dead
he is on Molokai now. The wife has
never showed any signs of leprosy, and