Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-29
LOOKER-ON in IOWA
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For the Times-Rcpublican.

For the Times Republican.
Graetinger, Aug. 2S.-The case of gen.
ulne leprosy in Iowa near this town
has been mentioned before in this COL
umn. Other papers have had refer
ence to it. The state board of health
has investigated it. Perhaps if an ac-
count of the real condition of affairs is
again brought before the public some
thing will be done. What follows is the
result of a talk with DIR. Molison, of this
place, who attends the case professions
ally. In this connection it may be
added that DIR. Molison has cultures"
from this case which prove beyond
doubt that this is a real case of leprosy
of the tuberculous form. Mr.. Ben
Peterson, who lives few miles from
town, is a well-to-do Norwegian farm
er. Years ago his first wife died in
Norway of leprosy, this in hospital,
where there was no doubt of the cause
of death and the disease. Two girls
We're born as result of this marriage,
both now grown women. The elder, 90
years of age, is the victim of this in
durable disease. Her sister shows not
the slightest trace of any leprous disor-
der, although they have grown up to-
gether and associated as closely as SIS
tiers commonly do. However, at the
present time the patient is separated
from the family, living alone by herself
In an upstairs room, where food is
taken to her. Although she is now con-
fined to her bed much of the time she
manages to do her own washing and
thus avoids the contact possible from
wearing apparel, bed clothes, etc. Her
personal condition is pitiable in the ex-
IRENE. The disease has destroyed the
ends OF her fingers, nose. ears and eyes,
also being in the condition mentioned
by those who have visited leper hospi-
tais, or have seen such cases in some
public places in the old countries or
leper settlements. Within the last few
months the disease has attacked her
throat, and 1t is only a question of
short time when her troubles will be
over. But what about the next few
months? Some one must take care of
her. Are the members of this family.
who are in duty bound to do this work.
TO be allowed to mix with the neigh ors
and TO trade in the stores and attend
public gatherings? Is the produce of
this farm to be sold everywhere and
reach consumers ignorant Of its source?
To this many doctors and some boards
of health say leprosy is neither infec-
tious nor contagious. but all admit this,
and DR.. Molison used it as an illustra-
tion. Surprising that ten years from
now some person should be scrubb!ng
the floor and run a silver into the hand
on which was some particle of leprous
baccilli II means sure death, long.
lingering death to that person, for all
agree that contact with a broken skin
makes the disease a certainty. This
possibility exists and Is even proba-
bllity for the members of this family,
who Will in humanitys name be COM
pelled to perform many personal serv-
ices for this patient before the end
comes 1T seems that good legal opin-
ION is that the state or county can not
remove the patient without the consent
OF the relatives. 1t can not destroy the
infected premises. All that it can le-
gally do is to establish a quarantine
around the premises, allowing no one to
enter or leave the grounds and house.
But even this is not done. DIR. Molison
thinks the patient should at once be re-
moved to hospital. and the house and
contents burned. But where is the au-
thority for such action, and who will
reimburse Mr.. Peterson for such loss !?
He is comfortably well-off, but such an
expense would be hard on him. On the
other hand, there Is no question but
what that house and every bit of furni-
lture in 1t and all of the wearing appar.
| Ell of the whSle family is capable under
Icertain possible conditions of spreading
leprosy into many Iowa homes. Every
body's business is nobodys business.
is the state board Of health doing Its
whole duty in the matter of the case of
lleprosy near Graetinger?
sts
Just now when money is drug and
we are all over-burdened with it, (es-
Z. pecially newspaper men) we really
don't care what the effete east says
about us. but there was a time and
may be again. when we shall want to
use eastern money. Many realize how
difficult 1T was only few years ago to
prevent Iowa from being classed with
other western states, as free silver
Estate. and one that believed in many
other isms, that made eastern money
lloaners fight shy of western mortgages
and other securities. With this in mind
when the following appears in the staid
lold Hartford Courant, it may in future
have something to do in the way OF
sending eastern money out here when
1 we need 1t for business enterprises
Under the head OF the Iowa republi-
4 cans, it says:
There is no uncertain sound in what
they say to the country, and we al
knew that there wouldn't be. Thanks
largely to the brains, sense and courage
OF one mantle man whom the Iowa
republicans honored yesterday, honor.
ing themselves as we'll. with unani.
nous denomination for the governor
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