The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-02-24
MaRRtr Of Handing The Lsps
Of bdRi slsna.
MENTION MADE Or HAWAII
Home on Leesed GROUND Wi,h,n q
s,ockade some Dri cui-
ties Set For,h.


will again be brought face 10 face with
the question OF what TO do with the
lepers. The umldiiy Of the State In
dealing with the question is responsible
in part for the continuance of the dis
ease Drastic measures, such as have
been adopted In Hawaii and other
countries where leprosy prevails,
would, II Is believed, have routed IL
from the State long ago. As Il is, lep-
rosy has fingered In Louisiana for a
century and a quarter.
The report of the Board Of Control
to Governor Foster shows that Louis
lana will be entirely unprepared to care
| for the inmates OF the Indian Camp
| Home upon the expiration of the lease.
II will be impossible To secure re-
| newal OF the lease because Of public
prejudice in lberyllle parish, where
the home is situated. and the bitter
opposition OF the neighboring prosper
Gus town of Whitecastle. The same
opposition will be encountered In other
parishes where the State may try TO
establish home for lepers. The Board
has frequently called the attention Of
| the Legislature to the matter, pointing
cut that the State ought to purchase
properly for a home and not depend
upon a lease; but the Legislature has
always lodged the unpleasant question.
Whether the failure OF the State TO act
will result in turning the lepers loose
on the community. or whether they
will remain where they are until they
can be removed elsewhere, cannot now
be determined. No one is likely TO
venture on the place TO remove them
as trespassers. Il is possible tina, they
will find another home through the
charity OF friends, for they have re-
ceiyed many gifts and legacies from all
parts Of the country, and there Is an
auxiliary association OF women Nm
New Orleans who look after and care
, for these unfortunate people.
The present home was established in
1892 when Louisiana seemed 10 be
aroused TO the Importance OF dealing
with the problem of leprosy. II had
previously been regarded as a subject
to be avoided. the mere mention OF
which was thought to be prejudiclal TO
the interests OF the State. For more
than a century since Carondelet's re-
gme under the Spanish domination
the leper question had been ignored,
and 1t was agreed not to recognize the
existence Of the disease. But in 1892,
owing 20 the unpleasant publicity that
had been given the disease, through
the discovery Of a leper barber and a
was recognized by all. The Legisla-
ture provided for home, but unfor-
tunately appropriated only enough
money TO lease one, not enough to buy
one, and passed an act which provided
penalties for harboring lepers and re-
CURED sheriffs to deliver such unfor-
|
by the district Judge. The first idea
was to establish the home in the out
skirts of New Orleans, where better
medicinal attendance could be proyid-
ed; but the city protested so loudly that
this plan was abandoned. The Board
of Control kept its subsequent plans
| 10 ait,,t lar astc
the parishes, and 1t was not until the
Indian Camp plantation had been
leased that the location determined on
was made known.
The leper home is admirably situat-
/ ed. II covers 200 acres OF an old plan
tation in Ibervllle parish, on the Mis-.
; and two miles from Whitecastle, on the
opposite side OF the river. The lepers
are confined within high stockadf
surrounding a space OF fifteen acres
Within the stockade are seven house;
occupied by the lepers, an elevated
pavilion or lookout for their amuse,
ment, and a splendid grove OF live
oaks. On the other side of a fence in
the direction of the main plantation
building is long raised cottage, es,
pecially constructed for the lepers
, dining hall, kitchen and other offices
, No one is allowed inside the inner
leper stockade except the doctor, tn,
nurses and the members of the Board
of control.
, The home is admirably managed IN
all respects, and the greatest care IL
, taken to prevent any spread of the dis
, ease. All money handled by the leper.
Is soaked in bichloride OF mercury so
luton and fumigated with the strong
,, est disinfectants The site is healthfu
| and isolated. There is an old-tim,
Iplantation mansion an immense bricl