The sun., 1896-09-22
LEPR0SY AT BELLEVUE.
ONE OF THE cITY's LoDeERs HAS
THE DREAD DISEASE.


Contracted the Nnindy In DrnEii-A
Freeman Yeatsrdny, lie rs Now Pris-
oner for Life on North Brother Island.
The frst case OF leprosy that has appeared in
New York in q long time was discovered yes
terday at Bellevue Hospital The discovery
was wholly accidental, and the victim OF the
disease. after being examined at Willard Parker
Hospital, where he WAS taken from Bellevue,
was sent to tho leper colony onlNorth Brother
Island, where he will. In all probability, spend
the rest of his life. The patient is Frederick
Fleming, n homeless German, who when he
had work, was a baker. He is 40 years old, and
his general appearance Is that of a healthy
tramp.
All that 10 positively known OF Fleming Is
that on Saturday night he applied at the city
lodging house on the Bellevue Hospital grounds
for place to sleep. He looked like hundreds
of other unfortunate men who spend their
nights In the omen air In summer and seek the
shelters provided by the city in colirweather.
The keepers OF the lodging house paid no atten-
tion to him. and when tho dodgers were turned
out on Sunday morning he left the hospital
grounds and was not seen during the day.
In the evening he called at the lodging house
for shelter again and was taken in. No one
who saw him noticed anything peculiar about
him. and he spent the night as he had the pre-
with the rest and left tho building.
After Fleming left the lodging house he
loitered about the grounds instead of going to
the street at once and 1t was this that led to the
discovery OF his disease. DR.. o. II. Holder, tho
dispensary physician, noticed Fleming walking
around. and something about the mans appear
ance attraoed his attention. A short time after
ward Fleming, who had been investigating the
arrangement Of the buildings In the enclosure.
wandered into the dispensary. which is in the
Bellevue Medical College building, apparently
to see what 1t was like When he passed him
the mark ngs on his face aroused tho physicians
curiosity. and DR.. Holder began an examination.
Fleming is o well.fed-lookng man. His face
is strongly German in its outlines. and he looks
fully the age that he says he is. The first thing
about him that DIR. Holder noted particularly
was circle under each eye white and nodular.
h ~ M rSp
ners OF his mouth.
The flesh and skin OF the face appeared to
be healthy. bat the nodular condition, which 10
present in certain forms of leprosy, caused the
physician to make u close examination OF the
white spot, which was insensible to the touch
A similar spot was found on the left leg. on
the feet there rev were several 6ismtshes: and on
DR.. Holder told Fleming 70 sit down on the
fed the hospital authorities. DR.. S. 4. Brown
made a casual examination OF the man.
fieminE haa @ 'Hy' isprosy. but but eeAn there sers
were so many OF the symptoms present,
.osE tG ssnh
conclusion might be reached. He was put in
an ambulance and taken to the hospital at
DR.. Brown were confirmed. Fleming was pro-
nounced a leper. and tho Health Departments
cottages ages on ON North n Brother Island. Whero two
Cinnamon and two negroes are con fined.
Whatever Fleming thought of the matter he
said nothing. In the morning he had been
DO as he pleased. inside of six hours he had
valid. and sentenced to lifelong imprisonment.
with no hope OF pardon and little chance Of
release except through death.
Little Is known of the mans history. He says
that he spent seventeen years in Brazil work
Ing at his trade, and that he contracted the
had been AFFLICTED. he said, for ten years.
he ga ne not 0ssa sna Dr. foer the
Health Board physician. said last night that 1t
tory Of the case as the man told ii. Since FEM
ing has been In this country he has not work ed ]
steadily. and has not piled his trade. He has
air. and has got his living as he could.
Fleming Is suffering from the tubercular and
lar form is characterized by thckenings and
indurations OF the skin. and is the more dread
OF he re Or m
possible to heal. The thlckened skin and
ulcers are the main symptoms: As they
be Stunned, and have earned for leprosy the
horror that attaches to It. The an@sthetic
skin bleaches in spots. and the sense OF feeling
Is lost IN the parts thus affected. This form OF
ply. WHICH Which shows itseIf especially ia in the inter- @
occur i on all parts q lie body: It S eons,i,n
years medical men have been studying it. no
remedy for it has been discovered. patient
students hold that it has practically no effect Of
Dr.. George ii. Fowler. the Health Boards
night that the popular fear Of the disease is
based on ignorance and error. 1t is not con-
and the danger of communication from an ef-
tected t person son. Is gl almost nothing: This opinion
studied the disease, and at various times
efforts have been made to convince the
5 as bsS iS by The asas. of the
deeply rooted that UP to tho present time physi-
clans have found 1t IMPOSSIBLE to bring people to
q rational view OF the subject. There are many
diseases which are far more easily communi- |
Gated that attract little attention and cause no
excitement wten they are discovered in COM
DR.. Fowler said that in Flemings case, and
with the others who are confined at North |
Brother Island. there WAS but slight danger of
in the contact they would ordinarily
have with people. even II they were at liberty.
make some arrangement that will make life |
easier for the fepers, but so far he has |
been unable TO do so. He believes that only |
In the worst stages Of the disease does the dan
ger approach the standard that has been set
BY popular fear. lie is now anxious that some |
Island may be selected for the leper colony, |
where they may work. enjoy some of the bene- |
fits OF a social life. and at the same time sup
port themselves.
An effort has recently been made by several
Chinese in the city TO procure the Iteration of
the two Cinnamon at the North Brother colony. |
In order that they may be sent back to China. |
The Board of Health Is willing TO deliver tho |
to their friends II plan can be submitted |
for their removal that meets its approval. DR.. |
Fowler doubts whether any steamship COM
pany will take them rs passengers.
uDu sDuUsr nrp nm suErro