The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-07
The Patient Was DiSCOv-
cred by Accident.
Woman Taken From Boston
to GallOupeS Island.
Physician Says NeighbOrs OF the
Victim Need Not Fear.

BOSTON, Feb. 7.-If there was any doupt
that the leprosy case discovered by DIR.
Gallivan in South Boston was such, and
that the victim was a woman suffering
with the loathsome disease, Il doubt
is set aside by the positive assertion OF
DIR. Durgin OF the board OF health who
yesterday evening said that the woman
was really suffering rom that disease, and
that she HAD been renowned to the hos
pital at Galloupes Island.
In addition to stating this fact DIR. Dur
gin was strong in the assertion that
there Is positively no danger from the
disease, as people think, and that the peo-
pie Of South Boston, and particularly
the neighbours OF the unfortunate woman.
need have no fears of having the disease.
smallpox, said DIR. Durgin, Is a great
deal more dangerous and more contagious
tina leprosy, but of course there Is great
er suffering. in fact torture, for the leper
than the smallpox patient.
1t was by the merest chance that the
latest victim of this disease was discov-
ereu.
A few days ago DIR. william j.. Gallivan
of City Point was called to station IL to
attend to a man who feared he had receiv-
ed very severe injuries in an accident.
DIR. Gallivan examined him and was salts
ucu tQdt the man WAS DluliiuB, anu toiu
him 20. His theory was found to be cor
2 ct when, Mt the command OF the doctor,
the man got up from his seat and started
for the door TO leave the station. His part
ing request of the physician was that the
latter call at his house the following
morning, as he wished to sec him.
In making his rounds the next morning
whom he had attended the night be-
fore, but found that he was not in.
While visiting the abode of the s1op,
which consisted of two small rooms in a
certain section of South Boston, the
doctor saw a woman lying on a bed in
one corner with a sheet over her face.
On inquiring Of the little girl, the
daughter OF the woman, the little one
said that her mother was sick and had
been 80 for a long time.
The doctor approached the bed and
spoke to the woman.
The woman threw the sheet from her
face and there the doctor witnessed q ter
rible sight. The face was the picture OF
torture, and it was plainly evident that she
was suffering excruciating pain. On closer
examination it was found hat her fin
gers were contracted, her toes out of place
and almost immovable, and the skin In
bad condition.
1t did not take long to convince him
that before him lay a real leper, the first
he had ever seen In his life, but a case
such as he had often read OF.
He quickly notified the board of health,
aud DIR. Shea was sent TO the house with
DIR. Gallivan. The board Of health ex-
pressed some doubts OF the case being
really that Of leprosy, but when DR., Shea
saw the poor woman there was no longer
any doubt of it.
Last Tuesday DR.. Durgin visited the
house and says there was a pitiable sight
for him to behold. The woman has a
husband, the nan who had summoned
DR.. Gallivan to the station, and two
children, one a young girl, the other a
young lady Of about 10 or 20.
Quickly the board Of health went to
work and the woman was sent TO Gal
loupes island, where there is also another
leper, q man who has been there several
months.
The house where the woman was found
is to be completely repaired and put into
good condition, and fumigated from roof
to cellar, and DIR. Durgin states that
there need be no fear OF any danger from
the germs OF the disease or from the
premises where the woman was und
The husband and daughters will be care
fully watched by the physicians, but the
board of health Is satisfied that they have
not received any Ill effects from the
disease OF the m
Leprosy is a disease which takes months
and In fact years To incuhate, and a per-
son may have IL in the system as long
as 10 years before there Is any outward
indication of the disease.
Dr. Durgin Of the city board OF health
and DR.. Abbot of the state board Of
health told a reporter of their experiences
with lepers. Within the past 10 years
there have been scarcely half a dozen in
this State.
The authorities are satisfied that much
credit is due DIR. Gallivan for discovering
the case In South Boston and Immediately
reporting II 10 the board of health ply
sicians.
DIR. Durgin was strenuous in his efforts
TO convince the reporter that the people
OF south Boston need have no fears. as
that department has done everything
possible TO preserve the health of the peo-
pie OF the neightorhood, where the
woman was found, and again he stated
that there is no ground for such fear as
exists among the peope of this disease.
Leprosy is known to the medical pro-
feesion as an endimic disease. one that is
peculiar TO a district or particular local
ity or class of persons in a greater or less
degree. Ii Is met with occasionally i'm
every seaport city and abounds in India,
syria. China. EryDt. Norway Most In.