The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-08
DECREASE or LEPROsY.
II Is Gradually Disappearing From
Civilized Countries.
From the London Telegraph.


From the London Telegraph
Few things offer more satisfactory food
for reflection than the Punishment of lep-
rosy from the British islands Its ravages
are now for The most part confined 10 the
great oriental population. but in medlae-
val England the disease assumed gigantic
proportions.
Leprosy is believed 10 have existed in
Egypt as early as 1900 B. c. Herodotus
knew of it in Persia. and The early Chi
nese writers refer to the disease.
1t is improbable that leprosy afflicted
early Greece and Rome, as the ancient
writers of these counties invariably speak
Of il as a foreign disease. 1t, however, APP
pcared in both countries in the first CEN
fury before Christ, and accompanied the
Roman colonists into Spain, Gaul and
Italy
In England a loper. or lazar. house was
established in Canterbury in A. D. 1906
The crusades are credited with being an
important agent in The dissemination of
this terrible disease. for during this period
1t made rapid strides throughout Europe
In 1926 we hear of the existence of 1900 le-
per hospitals in France alone
The number of leper houses in Europe
was estimated by Matthew Paris at the
terrible total of 1900, while IL is certain
that between the first eper house built
end the year 1472 no less than 112 institu-
lions were built in this country The leper
houses of the middle ages were for the
most part religious, and dedicated to ST.
Lazarus. In the eye of the law the leper
was dead. The church adopted the same
view, and read the burial service to the
poor unfortunate on the day of his re-
moval to the iazar house, This was perhaps
scarcely less charitable than the modern
act of reading the burial service to a con-
dcmned man on the scaffold, but the
church in those days went further-it
threw a shovel full of earth over the poor
wretch as a symbol Of the grave that was
yawning fc- him.
The lepors wore a special costume, us
ually a long gray gown with hood
drawn over the face. Instead of the heart
rending Jewish cry. "Unclean, uncean."
the medieval leper announced his APP
preach by means of wooden clappers
From the year 1920 there was decided
decrease in The number of lepers in Eng
land. A commission appointed in the reign
of Edward ", reported that few lepers
remained in any of the lazar houses. Be
fore Henry VIII, came 10 the throne lep-
rosy had practically disappeared and Italy
and France saw the last Of the scourge
III Norway. Iceland and Russia trace
of this medieval blight is found to-day,
while it fingered in the Shetland Isles I'M
iii the close of the last century. Rare
cases are also found in Portugal, Spain.
Turkey and Greece at the present time.
While the disease was thus dying out in
Europe isolation was everywhere strictly
enforced,
Leprosy followed The Chinese immigra-
ton into America, appearing as far East
as Chicago. in South Africa and Austria
liza il is encountered. The disease was
carried into the Sandwich Islands in 1880.
and has been spreading with alarming ac-
tivity 1t is rampant in the Hawaiian
Islands where the immortal Father Da-
mien went 10 minister relief to the lepers.
and who by his death has left a monu-
ment Of devotion that will last for all
time
The cause Of the disease is little i;nown
bat qualified observers believe il TO oe
strongly hereditary. Some think that fish
food. especially when sailed or decompos
ed. is the main cause of its origin. Dirt
and bad sanitation are, of course. favor
able 10 It's growth. But whatever the
cause LEI us be thankful for its departure
from these islands.