The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-06
rHE DANGER FROM 1EPBRs.
Discussion or the Precautions Against I
which Are Requisite.

which Are Requisite.
To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sfr: In refer
ence to your article by DR.. Dyer Of Now Orleans,
I am sure that you will give q small place for q
few observations.
1t has always been my opinion, and It IL what
DR.. Goldschmidt and I have been contending
for several years. that an international leper
law 10 absolutely necessary to solve the uni
versal leper problem. Some authoritative
International body must be appointed
TO establish that law, with tho power
Of the Governments behind 1t. We pro.
posed that there should be an inter
national committee. and that 1t should promul.
gate rules binding on every Government. This
proposition Of ours was rejected by tho Berlin
Lepra conference as inopportune. In its place
m international leprosy society was recon-.
mended. This 10 tho society to which DR.. Dyer
refers, with Prof. Virchow rs its first President.
1t will be q society on the model OF all other
medical associations Of tho kind; for instance,
the New York County Medical Society. on the
authority of which useful body tho lepers of
New York were turned loose.
My proposition was that tho German Govern
ment should invite every civilized country to
send a delegate. with power to act in matters
of lcprosy. these delegates forming the internn-
tional committee. In no other way can inter
national legislation be enacted and enforced.
Tho menace to this country from lcprosy ia
from South America, West Indies, China, Japan.
and Norway. We are interested. therefore,. in
having these countries settle their lepcr prob.
lem. To settle our own Is comparatively a tri-
fling matter. But IL these countries are remiss.
as they viii be without international reguln-
tions. they will send the disease to this
country In spite OF all tho precautions
by which we may endeavor to defend our
-. MI Fo-Al in =,
fore the disease has broken out and whom 1t
Is still In n state OF incubation. These men
thus unwittingly carrying into our country the
! hidden germs. would, under the rule Of rational
law. have been kept aloof from contamination.
or, II they had been Cxnoscd TO 1t, would have
been kept under surveillance for a certain num.
Der OF years by a board OF health. or course, a
member, of a lrprons family would always be
passed In healthy, circumstances the maximum
Of the period OF incubation.
No man from n lcpcr country would no per-
mitted to omigrate without a clean bill of
health. 1t would be a penal offence for n steam
rons country without this certificate.
The West Indies offer one interestln g Instance.
Of 2i6 patients. "a Hindu coolies, and he asks
The question; Where do they get the disease
suppose that all the IIindus who leprosy
~ Trinidad become infected here. 1t Is far more
i already incubating when they land here.
though IL may not be evident enough to insure
rejection after medical examination"
This proves clearly that a purely national law
would not suffice for our protection. That law
would control leprosy at home and prevent tho
introduction OF visible. evident cases; but as
long MS by international agreement the depart.
ure of dangerous people for these shores Is not
made Impossible the peril cannot be c~onjured.
Tho International method is in operation to.
day in Hawaii against Japanese and Chinese
importation, and it has served to keep in Japan,
In 2s, 900 omigranis, all but four lcpers. who
were sent back. There are in Molokai at tho
present moment only We japanese lepers. Yet
three times that number who have not bern
registered. 1t would DO well II we adopted this
Hawaiian lcper law; 1t is better than the Nor
toned. but which Is not complete enough-that
is, not international. Several things in the
conclusions OF the Berlin Congress. I may say
In passing, were the result OF compromise.
ALBERT s. AsHMEAD, NJ. d..
Late Foreign Medical Director Toxic Hospital.
Japan.
NEW YORK., Nov. %.