Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
THE DREADED LEPRoSy
Its Existence Not Rarity fin Tht,
Country.


Country.
From TIE Pittsbure News.
The reported case of leprosy in this city
adds interest to a Paris cable .lisnatcb
stating that French physician has dis
covered new cure for that dread disease
In the interest of humanity il is to be
hoped that the discovery will prove sue
cessiul, and heal those who heretofore
nave had no other future to look forward
10 imam living death-a gradual decay
of their bodies
Leprosy in the United States is not as
rare as il is commonly believed II in
Claimed that there are no less than 200
lerers in this country but only a few cases
OF the genuine disease have been recorded
alter thorough diagnosis north o. LoUis-
laEa These cases, however are sutiicien.
evidence that the people of the north are
subject TO the disease and ANYBODY whose
constitution is run down by sickness or
poor nourishment, especially If living in an
unhealthy neighborhood, may become in
lected with the disease
In Louisiana the disease has baa- nm
s.ahiy IN evidence since IT'S and al
thouSh IL is denied by some authorities q,
senerdny admitted that the majority OF
me dHected people We're born and reared
IN that state. The claim that leprasv was
imported into Louisiana by French Cana
olahs, who were driven from their north
ern home, Is very likely based on fact for
there exists a lepcr colony al New Rru,s-
WICK TO this day The number of Iepars
IN Louisiana has increased constantly. and
not very long ago the state mad. an at
tempt L" curta1l the spreading OF he dis
ease by means of isolation The old In
dlan camp farm near Heryille was bought
Tor this purpose. but although a stat. law
was enacted compelling all lepers To reside
lhere only about thirty are now in the camp
and many people afflicted with the plague
are living in small towns and even in New
orleans. where they move about without
restriction.
There are a number of lepers in and
about Key West, Fla, in the Pacidc coast
states, as well as in Minnesota bnt their
disease is not of the endemic character
Two cases OF real leprosy Were recorded
In New Lexington, Ohio, late IN 1872 Ham
nah n. Carey applied for 2 pension at that
place on December IT, 1882 hasimg her
claim on the TACT that she was a daughter
OF veteran who had recently died. A
medical examination resulting in a diagno-
sis proving leprosy followed the application
Her feet were swollen an tull of running
sores; several of her toes hal dropped eff
ana other symptoms were noticeable. She
waT then eighteen years old. No symptoms
OF the disease had appeared until he was
fifteen, while her fye-year-od sister was
In condition similar to her own. X was
learned that the father of the girls had
contracted leprosy while in the south dur
Ing the war, and his children had Inherited
the disease.
Every now and then lepers are discovered
plague from the orient. New York At pres
ent cares for five lrpers. VINO strictly
isolated on North Brother lslanI
That leprosy is not confined 10 tropical
or at least warm climates is proved 10y the
fact that there are thousands of i.pers in
Norway. Physicians differ as 20 whether
or not leprosy is contagious, but the pre-
ponderance of opinion is in The affirmative.
The specific cause of leprosy is unknown.
II probably had its origin in the Gelta and
valley of the Nile country in prehistoric
similar climatic and telluric conditions to
those in Egypt, IN other inter-tropical coun~
tries. The most memorable fact in the his
tory of the disease is its great medieval
outbreak in Europe. lasting from he sew
enth to the sixteenth century. The lepers
at present scattered over the world are
likely survivals of this rise and subsistence
of leprosy an epidemic disease
If the French doctors discovery proves
TO be of practical value he will oe a bene-
factor to the human race.