The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16

proven by the fact that the disease ap-
pears in many parts-such as the interior
of Spain, for instance, where only the
very wealthy can afford fish.
That leprosy originates from cold and
exposure and want of vegetable diet is
also erroneous, because the greatest num-
ber OF cases occur in warm climates, such
as India, where clothing is never needed
and where vegetable diet alone is used.
The real cause of leprosy is undoubtedly
the leprous bacillus, a small, rodlike
vegetable micro-organism similar to the
bacillus tuberculosis. The disease is
contracted by incubation = actual con-
tact of the mucous membrane or abraded
parts of the cutaneous system. 1t is
never hereditary, as is generally SUD-
posed; but children may. and often
do contract the disease from infected
mothers after birth. The most usual
manner of inoculation in the Hawaiian
Islands is found to be their method Of
greeting. When two friends or relations
meet they first rub noses, them EN- brace
and kiss. During this kissing process
their lips are firmly pressed together and
the tongue is protruded into each others
mouth. This form of salutatien is no
doubt responsible for the spread of the
disease as much If not more than any
other social custom or relation which ex-
lists. Another prominent method OF prop
agating the disease is found in the man.
ner the Hawaiians care for those afflicted
with leprosy.
DR.. L. f. Alvarez, in Pacific Medical
Journal, January, 1895, says:
4 4 7
in a dark, low basement. She was
paralyzed, blind, without fingers or toes
and had open ulcers on her arms and legs.
Her friends fed her by conveying poi-a
native dish not unlike bill-poster's paste
to her mouth with their fingers, and gave
her water by taking a mouthful of it, fit
ting their lips to the leper's and transfer
ring the water to her mouth. This dis
gusting manner OF giving water to the
sick still prevails in many Hawaiian
homes where spoons are unknown. This
leper woman was returned to the hospital
at the leper settlement. Since then nine
teen persons of her family and friends
have developed leprosy, many of whom
had been nursing this woman"
Leprosy undoubtedly occurs from di-
rect ontaglon-transmissio of the bacil-
lus of Hansen-from an infected person.
All animals enjoy perfect immunity from
leprosy, occasionally reported cases to the
contrary Notwithstanding as the bacillus
in these so-called leprous animals has
never been demonstrated.
INCUBATION.
The period it takes for the disease to
show itself after incubation averages about
six TO seven years.
DURATION.
The disease proves fatal in from ten to
twenty years.
1t is not the object of this article to dis
cuss the pathology of leprosy. Suffice it
to say that three well-marked varieties of
the disease exist, VIZ, tubercular leprosy,
non-tubercular or anesthetic leprosy, and
mixed tubercUlar and paralytic leprosy.
The tuDercuIar variety being the most rap
idly fatal, the patient seldom lives more
tn en- from eight to ten years after the dis
ease manifests itself.
TREATMENT OF LEPRosY.
In such chronic and fatal disease as
leprosy it is small wonder that many diff
ferent kinds of remedies have been tried |
Excisinn of the primary lesion has failed,
as it has in syphilis, because the system
is already infected before the primary le-
sion appears. Mercurials and iodide of
potassium are worse than useless. Creo-
sote, salol, salicylate of soda, gynocardic |
acid, quinine, arsenic, iron, gurjun oil ana |
oil have proven of benefit. |
For external use chrysarobinum, iodine,
ichthyol, iodoform, europhen and pyoleta-
nine have proven useful.
The GoTo TREATMENT
This consists in bathing daily in hot |
wafer in which are placed bags containing
hichiyon bark, taifunshi, sulphur and |
yoku yaku. Internally he gives seiket-
suren pills, tincture chloride of iron, qui-
nine. strychnine, iodide of potash, gentien,
carbonate of soda and potash, !
and Epson salts.
Goto during lis many years of residence |
in Hawaii failed to cure single case.
''Tbe proof is lacking that cure has been |
in any CASE (Dr. Emerson.
Government Physician, Hawaii). MANY |
of the patients reported by DR.. Goto as
almost cured have since died of leprosy"
CDR. AlvareZ). Several Hawaiian iepers
have gone to Japan to be treated at |
Goto's leper hospital in Toxic But |
several years treatment N that institu-
ton, sin some cases without even
amelioration, convinced these Hawaiians
that it was useless to remain in Japan,
hence they returned home and were sent |
to the leper settlement" (Dr. Alvarez,
Bacteriologist, Hawaiian Government).
'Dr. Goto's japanese treatment has
failed' (Dr. Ashmead). From per-
sonal observation in the Hawaiian |
Islands | am satisfied that Gotos |
so-called treatment is entirely en-
pirical, without the slightest scientific
and, as every educated ply
sician who has ever tried it or seen it tried
confirms, it is absolutely without any
merit in the treatment of leprosy The
so-called temporary benefit results merely
from the cleanliness obtsined by the fire.
luent bathing and the tonic treatment,
which could better be established by
medicaments.
More recently august, 1S96) DR..
Thomas Holmes of Brooklyn, N. Y, de-
'cribed in the daily press as IAN aged
- has discovered a cure (?l for