The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
LEpRosr,s MENACE TO THE WORLD.
A Louisiana Expert on the Conclusions Reached
By the Berlin Congress.

" = ~ S"hsNhA
New ORLEANS, Nov. 26.-Dr. Isadore Dyer,
the Louisiana export on leprosy and until late
" President Of the State Board Of Control Of
tho Lepers' Home, has just returned from Eu-
rope, whittier no went TO attend the leprosy
congress at Berlin last summer. Ho brings
back many suggestions which will DO put into
operation at once. In general, what he learned
ut Berlin confirms tho limo of treatment Of
this disease already followed in Louisiana.
Tho lease Of tho land In Ibervillo parish, now
used as a lepers' homo, will expire in q worry
short time, and rs the people of the noighbor-
hood arc anxious to got rid Of tho homo the
chances arc that II will BIO abandoned. As the
Berlin congress strongly recommended tho
isolation and confinement Of lepers whenever
possible, on appcaLswill be made to the Legisla'
tnro TO establish a permanent lepcrs' homo.
DR.. Dyer estimates the number of lepors in
Louisiana at 1873, or rather says that no knows
Of that number In the state. This is far less
than the general belief, and It will DO easily
possible to provide for tho confinement and iso-
made for them by the Legislature.
DR.. Dyer is very severe, In his denunciation
Health in discharging u number OF lcpers DO
c cay Q. as s. he et says: , t0n cor or two ss prG 1, nc meai,
with the opinion of experts who see. each OF
them. moro lepers In q weok than any Of those
custodians Of public health have seen in o 1fo-
tt% the Be- Ber In L lfre " conter sHt,si the act feo Of the
New York state Board OF Health may be con-
S sid roIs Criminal NAL, This rl T. ,ss99eisiss aTss &c ao wnsn
ment guarantees against leprosy, and Compels
lepers. to return to the country whence they
came
DR.. Dyer says that the Berlin congress unan-
imously reached the conclusion that leprosy 10
tSS oIa shs5 %gd OF T Ssr stdEiGgs'yr 4lsDG is son to deps so
tho belief formerly entertained. in Louisiana
even by eminent, physicians, The conference
accepted tho bacillus lepre. discovered twenty
tive years ago. as the virus Of ~leprosy. but was
not PREPARED to say definitely how the bacillus
SssftSS p sne nu toSR the ys dfseasa. Is how a
DIR. Dyer was greatly surprised to find from
tho reports of the delegates from distant parts
resented, that leprosy was far moro prevalent
than was generally supposed. The total mum:
Whom SS5 St 90 $500 So w %rs i Gs,J1a apaS. 1905 g S;SSG n fSdi @,
100000 in South America, 100000 in China,
10000 in Europe, 10000 in Turkey, and some
The lcprologists present expressed the belief
that with the closer relations now existing be,
tween Europe and America and the Oriental
countries where lcprosy IL most prevalent,
the disease is increasing everywhere so as to
DO q menace. as it was to Europe in the time OF
the civilized nations should take some steps to
prevent its snread, and root it out. With that
was formed, with Prof, Virchow as its frs,
President, and l: s.. ,Kinyouns Of Washington
as the SECRETARY for the United States.
The conference agreed as to the incurability
of ieprosy. and that the several modes Of treat
ment now In vogue were merely palliative. II
recommended for the extinction OF the diseases
first, isolation; second, reporting and register
ing all. cases of lcprosy, as Ia done with Other
contagious diseases, and third, a law enabling
the authorities to take such steps in rcgarthtC
lcpcrs in the matter OF their residence as are
applicable to the special social conditions Of
tho district in which they are found. The con
ference also determined to use special effort tc
bring 10 the attention of the pubic the danger
OF leprosy in view OF the general Ignorance o
the subject, and to spread the results reached by
1t after careful study of the disease.
DR.. Dyer returns with IL considerable guam
tity of Rnti.venomous serum. which Calmette
the discovorer, placed at his disposal, and thi'
remedy for snake bites will be used upon tn,
Louisiana.