The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-20
SOME MEDICAL ouNIoNs.
Physicians and Authorities Say Lei

questioned as to the contagious char
acter of the disease. Drs. Belle and
Harrison are probably the best posted
men on the subject in Salt Lake, hav-
ing given a great deal of time and at
tention to a study of the malady.
Both agree that it is a contagious
disease, although they declare that all
persons are not subject to its infiuen-
ces. The leading authorities agree
that it is contagious, and the physi-
clans alluded to present the latest dec
larationS in support of their personal
opinions. Both agree that where lep-
rosy exists measures should be taken
to isolate the afflicted and keep them
apart from those who are free from the
disease.
Fourteen years ago DR.. James c.
White, professor of dermatology at
Harvard. university. writing for the
International Encyclopedias of Surgery.
said in relation to the contagious char
acter of the disease: 'Of the direct
cause of leprosy it may be said that
we know nothing, unless we admit its
communication by contagion- 1t oc-
ours in all parts of the world, irrespec-
tive of temperature, moisture, alti-
tude, diet or any recognized physical
conditions. 1t is on the increase in
some regions and has shown an ac-
| tiyity and virulence during the last
twenty years in the Hawaiian islands
equal to that displayed at the time
of it's most extensive ravages in the
middle ages on the eastern hemisphere.
We know one fact certainly, that it is
hereditary; that a certain portion of
the lepers children are liable to the
disease in after life; but that this de-
velopment is retarded in after life in
! the descendants and that the character
of the affection is mitigated by resi-
dence in non-leprous regions. On the
other hand, there can be no doubt that
in individuals with such hereditary
faint, the disease is much mora liable
to develop in regions where leproSy
abounds-that is, where lepers live
than in other localities. This suggests
the possibility by direct or indirect
| personal contact Certainly a study
of the spread of the disease in the
Sandwish islands, virgin soil for
such an investigation, warrants a re-
vision of the commonly accepted mod
ern professional dictum, that it is not
contagious Very strong data exists
to prove that the disease has been
communicated there, at least, by con-
tact, and such is the firm belief of all
| physicians who have observed 1t in
! those islands"
| In his remarks on treatment the doc
| tor urges, among other things, the ad-
! vice: 1.-The patient should be removed
at once from non-loprous regions.
| Dr. Gronvold of the Norwegian coll
ony of Minnesota, in paper delivered
before the American Genealogical
| associa ton, says tEbt of all cases
which have come under his observation
| in this country there was not one
where it was transmitted from the par
ents to the children.
Z James Nevins Hyde, A. NJ. M. D.,
! professor of skin diseases of the Rush
/ Medical college, at Chicago, at the
| congress of physicians and surgeons,
held in Washington il 1894. delivered a
very able paper on the distribution of
| leprosy in this country, and in it he
maintains that the law should be very
strict in relation to the handling of the
! disease He cites that 1T is we'll
/ known that the families of lepers here,
! as in other countries. as a consequence
of fear or shame, or for other reasons,
/ often wilfuily conceal, as far as posi-
! bile. the existence of leprosy in one or
more of their number" He alludes to
! the fact that while in other countries
| the leper is well known, in the United
| States he can travel at will, with we'll
i filed purse, may sleep in a Pullman
! car, and adds a table showing numer-
/ Gus cases where lepers have travelled
! across the continent and from Canada
| to Florida without restraint.
After citing numerous authorities in
support of the hypothesis, the doctor
says: Tuberculosis alone exposes at
! present, to a greater danger than
lepra, the health of our population.
Enough lepers are now sheltered upon
/ this soil to offer menace to the well
| fare of it's inhabitants and to propose
| a problem in state and sanitary science
ir.1, IaTt
alone can rightly solve" It would ap-
| pear from the closing quotation that
/ the doctor believes in the contagious
/ character of the disease
That it is contagious is demonstrated
] by the report of DIR. A c. Smith, OF the
Dominion of Canada. to the minister
of agriculture He cites that during
1892, while making tour of inspection
he found it cropping out in new and
unexpected places and declares that
Only by permanent detention or iso-
| lation can it be checked or STAMPED
OUT
AS an instance where 1t was proven
to be contagious he cites that "a bow.
now IA years of age, was, when years
old. attended by a leprous woman
during tine healing statge of a burn.
Is now in am advanced stage of the
disease. His parents brothers and sis
ters are free from ~
Reference has been made to the
opinions of DR. White. given fourteen
years ago. At that time he inclined TO
the belief that it was hereditary in
some cases, but he has changed his
Judgment now and while not deviaGing
from the idea that it is contapiol1s. he
asserts that 1T is not hereditary. He
declares "Leprous parents transmit NO
cacnexia, or constitutional degenera-
ton. to their offspring No case of
congenital leprosy has been observed
and the disease rarely affects children
before the age of s. We have no proof
that child born Of leprous parents
mas become leprous. If removed imqne-
aIateiy after birth to surroundings free
from Infection - I believe +be
theory of heredity to be a dangerous
one, and that the sterner Judgment al
the middle ages, which made the 1ener
individually the responsible aeant
rather than the progenitor.. must apain
be adopted before the affection can he
exteTmlnated. We are dealing every
day with infectious diseases of the in.
leclins properties of which we have ne
Alowieoge, and vet we should consoles
ourselves guilty of criminal conduct Il
we should OF this account refuse :.
acknowledge their CONTAGIOUS cbor,o
ter But in the case of IeDros,, W.. :, a.,
know why 1t should be Contagious,
Inc doctor cites instances wbara "a,
olsease mas proven contagious. mn
ana ward tender in the Guiana lao
TeItos became infected; in Russia
three ciergymen from healthy dist 6
pecalne lepers after associatine with
them; in Bergen two ward tende,-s ~ -
came inoculated with the diseass. II
New Orleans a priest succumhsd ~
Hawaii TWENTY-FIVE white ra-;5..' ~