The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-25
LOUISIANA'S LEPER HOME.
Medical Treatment Mitigntes But
Never Cures the Disease.

Never Cures the Disease.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
One of the most interesting public insti-
tutions in Louisiana is the state leper
home. This institution, with its grounds
and buildings, occupies about two hundred
acres Of Indian camp plantation, Parish
of Iberville, about two miles south of White
| Castle, on the opposite side of the river.
The nearest residence on the same side OF
the river Is one and a half miles away.
Within this tract of two hundred acres is
an inner Enclosure of about fifteen acres,
surrounded by high fences within which
are the seven cottages occupied by the lep-
ers, an elevated pavilion or lookout
for their amusement and a splen-
did group of old oak trees.
Across dividing fence, in a direc-
ton of the main plantation building, is a
long, raised cottage, specially constructed
| for the lepers dining hall, kitchen and 9th
er offices.
The institution is under the direct man
| agement of a medical officer and corps Of
| Sisters of Charity, and under the general
| control of a state board of seven. The Sis
| ters of Charity, who with extraordinary
Il
quarters detached from those of the pa
! tents, but they never leave the place. The
| ordinary service of the institution is per-
formed by those of the inmates who are
| able TO DO so. Employment is recreation
| to them. The patients are of both sexes. and
upon some the disease is in its early stages
while in others its ravages are fully dis
| played. The medical report describes one of
| the inmates thus: mo 10 is a fine and,
generally speaking, healthy looking girl
| of twenty summers. If 1t were not for the
| deformity of her fingers no one would ever
| know she had anything like leprosy Her
general health Is of the best, and she looks
in the face as fair as any one could wish
10 see
No one is allowed inside the inner leper
Enclosure except the Sisters the doctor the
members of the board and authorized Wis
itors who are always accompanied by the
Sister Superior. All money handled bv Ire
lepers is soaked in bi-chloride of mercury
solution or fumigated with the strongest
disinfectants before being paid out for their
account. Peddlers are not allowed to have
direct dealings with 1epers, nor in tact.
to go within the lepers' Enclosure at nn
Since the home has been established at
Indian Camp, in December, 1894 there
have been admitted thirty-five patients of
which twenty-one were males and four
teen females. There have been six deaths.
All the lepers who come voluntarily to the
home are guaranteed that their real names
will never be diVulged nor their family con-
nections exposed. There are legal means
70 enforce the sending of lepers to the
| home, but not a few are concealed by their
friends. The medical treatment mitigates
the diseases, but no lepers are ever cured
The premises now occupied are only he Ia
by lease, which will shortly expire. The
general assembly should lose no time In
providing for the purchase Of suitable
tract of land for permanent home.
The institution is supported by a email
annual appropriation from the state treas
ury 1t Is most deserving of charity, snd
should be remembered by those able TO
give. II received last year n legacy from
Mrs. Honora Burke Rlngrose of this city
of 5000. besides many small sums and
contributions of provisions and other sup
plies. OF the patients, three were born in
France, two an Germany one in New
York and the balance in Louisiana. The
late international I Congress on Leprosy.
held al Berlin, decided that the disease is
contagious and has never been cured.