The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-30

for years after being afflicted, while in
other cases the patient dies within a few
weeks. 1t can be likened in this respect
to the disease of consumption, for NOR
tally records show that in some of the
tuberculosis cases the victims have died
a few weeks after being stricken, while
in others they have fingered for months
and years. Leprosy is fatal in a few
weeks at rare intervals The first symp-
tom of the disease appears at the nose
where there is usually a copous dis
charge of a peculiar nature. Next come
a series of white spots upon the skin
underneath which the nerves are paral-
yzed, leaving the parts affected without
any feeling whatever Then follows that
stage which in most cases slowly devours
the entire human system.
The United States government now
maintains two institutions especially built
for the treatment of leprosy. One is
situated in Louisiana, near New Orleans,
while the other is near San Francisco.
In the former place there are patients of
different nationalities while at San Fran
cisco most of the victims being treated
are Chinese. In China the ailment pre-
walls very freely, owing to existing con-
ditions, hereinbefore enumerated, which
are favorable to the propagation of the
disease. In other parts of the country
lGprOSy cases are at the regular
pest houses.
Most of the cases which are treated
here are imported from abroad. They
come by way of the steerage. AS is we'll
known the government maintains compe-
tent medical inspectors at all our ports
of entry for immigrants, but in many in
stances it is impossible to detect this
disease in men and women who are af-
fiicted. OF course, whenever a case is
discovered the person attacked is imme-
diately deported to the country whence
he or she came, but it is impossible to
bar all such sufferers. The government
averages a dozen such deportations year
ly. In many cases the disease remains
latent for great while before it be-
comes perceptible to even the most ex-
perienced, and while thus in its incip-
iency it gets past the vigilant eye of the
inspector. When a person afflicted in
this degree gets within the country once
he is lost to the immigration authori-
ties even if it is discovered later that he
is a victim and it is only when the dis
ease breaks forth in its most virulent
form that we are able to catch him.
Again, there are the physicians of the
country to be contended with. There is
no doubt that there are many doctors in
the country now treating lepers without
the knowledge of the existence of such
cases being in the possession of the gov
eminent authorities The code of ethics
of the medical profession, of course, in
hibitS any physician from informing upon
his patients in such a manner, and in
asmuch as there is no law covering the
situation the government is powerless to
compel doctor to divulge such secrets.
IN THE NEW POSSESSIONS.
The new possessions of the United
States are especially adapted to the
spread of leprosy. The Philippines in
particular, are always in prime condi-
ton for the birth and growth of the dis
ease, and there are hundreds of cases
there winch will necessarily have to be
attended to by our government. In Cuba
and Porto Rico, however the disease is
not so general. In the case of Hawaii the
ailment was unknown prior to two hum
dred years ago. About that time Cap
tain Cook, the noted explorer, arrived at
the Hawaiian Islands from China. Up
TO his arrival Hawaii knew nothing of
leprosy, but Cook brought it with him
from the celestial empire, and it has
been there ever since. Hawaii, like the
Philippines, bears a great many cases.
1.-THE Forthcoming report of the COM
mission will not cover the disease in our
new possessions, but the whole of the
United States proper will be dealt with.
The three experts engaged in collecting
information on the subject have been to
San Francisco and other cities in quest
of data, and every community in the
United States where leprosy prevails will
be referred to in the document. Each
city will be enumerated, showing the
number of cases prevailing therein. 1t
will be highly interesting paper
1t is understood that this commission
will not recommend the adoption of
| measures not already employed by the
medical profession in the treatment of
leprosy. The establishment of more in
stitutions for the exclusive treatment Of
this disease may be urged, but so far as
the experts can discern, the usual pre-
cautions of consumption of wholesome
food, the free use of soap and water
and avoidance of overcrowding of pop
ulation are the three essentials in ward
ing off the loathsome scourge.