The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-08
OUR COLONY Of LEPERS
An Investigation by Surgeon D.
A. Carmichael.
DETECTION is DIFFICULT
1t Takes From Three to Ten Years for
Incubation-Strict M sasures Must Be
Adopted to Prevent It's Spread
to the United States.

Washington, Jan. 7.-Surgeon D. A
Carmichael Of the marine hospital ser
vice, who recently made an inspection
of the settlement of lepers in Hawaii
has made a report of his visit. On the
subject of precautions necessary to
prevent the Introduction of leprosy
into the United States, DR.. Carmichael
says:
1.-THE period of incubation in lepro.
sy Is so long and varia ble-from three
to seven or 10 years-its detection in
the early stages so difficult, and the
fact that leper's patches may first op-
pear on the unexposed parts of the
body, such as the upper parts of the
arm, chest and back and that lepers
ulcers may be present in the upper part
of the nasal passages, makes it's de-
lection by ordinary quarantine meth
DDS uncertain.
I'm pronounced cases detection is
easy but these rarely emigrate. and
the greatest difficulty would be met
with in the slight cases occurring in
the white or mixed races. The native
Hawaiian rarely emigrates. and those
who leave their homes usually go as
sailors. although / have been informed
that there is a small colony of Ha-
waiians in Salt Lake, Utah. who were
induced to go there by the Mormon
missionaries. Inquiry as to the pres
ence or absence of leprosy among
them would be interesting.
1T is possible for persons with lep-
rosy undeveloped and for the slightest
cases to pass from one country to an
other without detection, and the fact
of its presence in various parts of the
United States is evidence that quar-
antine restrictions do not exclude it.
Few medical men are familiar with
the appearance of leproey in it's early
stages, and cases are often diagnosed
as other skin diseases, and the tact
that the skin diseases such as psor-
iasis, various forms of tarina, chloas-
ma, scabies, erythema, etc, are often
associated with leprosy makes it's de-
lection still more difficult.
Restrictive measures should be
adopted to control the departure of all
emigrants suffering from endemic focf
of leprosy at the point of departure
and these should consist of a careful
inquiry into the family and sanitary
history of each emigrant, rigid physi-
cal examination and disinfection of his
effects. Similar procedures at the
port of arrival should be adopted, and
a record of the destination of the en-
igrant preserved.
Adoption of the above named meas
ures would restrict the importation Of
the disease SO far as it is possible to
do So but such proceedings could be
still further aided by the government
of the United States assuming control
of measure for the suppression of lep-
rosy in the possessions recently acquir-
ed by annexation and by conquest
viz, the Hawaiian and Philippine ISL
ands and the island of Cuba, in all Of
which leprosy exists to a greater or
less extent.
I'm so doing it would assume it's
share among the nations in stamping
out this pest of ages, and would set
an example which might, with I'M
doubted benefit to the welfare of man
kind, be emulated by the enlightened
nations of the world"