Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-01

Church. The needs of the place now, said
the missionary, are for more buildings to
accommodate larger numbers. There are
many Iepers In the homes of the country.
he declared, who would willingly go to an
asylum where they could be properly treat
ed, and the object of the Protestant Asso-
citation Is to secure funds in order to supply
buildings in which the lepers may be
housed
In going among the leprous patients. Mr..
Weiss stated, the missionaries and nurses
always take careful precautions in order
to prevent catching the disease They use
dis1nfectants after the manner of phys1-
slams IN going among patients afflicted with
said Mr. Weiss. will never extend his hand
and they themselves seem to take pains to
avoid personal contact with healthy per-
sons.
characteristics Of the Disease.
Zone of our PATIENTS said the mission
airy, sis a lad about nineteen years Of age.
The disease has disfgured his face until 1t
is almost repulsive to look upon, and his
hands and feet are bent and twisted and
covered with marks peculiar to the disease.
He is helpless cripple and a terrible suf-
ferer. The disease breaks out in some par
ticular spot. For instance, in the fingers,
and slowly it eats off the member. While
the dissolution is going on it is very pain
full, and after it has ceased in one spot the
affection will appear in another part of the
body. 1t is a death by inches. Sometimes
1t eats out the eyes, and leaves only sight
less holes, and other Disbursements are
seen equally terrible to look upon. They DO
not suffer pain all the time, however, but
only when dissolution of some part of the
body Is in active process.
But it is not the pain alone that makes
the life Of a leper so terrible, so full Of
despair. 1t is that the sufferers know they
-oy hn%t bot ha{r 20 20
utterly hopeless, and that they will slowly
waste away, gradually losing strength and
parts Of their body, without ever becoming
well again. They have so much time for
thinking upon their condition, and this con-
duces to make them desperate and irrespon-
sible. There Is nothing, seemingly, for
them to live for but death, and not infre-
quently, In their bitterness, they disregard
all moral law and are indeed pitiable crea-
lures.
"In one Of the rooms at the asylum, that
of a young man who was formerly a car
penter and Is still able to use his hands in
that kind Of work, it Is pathetic to see a
head stone which he has made for his own
gravs. Upon this hardwood slab he has
carved his own name, date of birth, etc,
and has Mt space for the date of his
death to be filed in by others. And yet,
notwithstanding the hopelessness of their
cases, we are able to convert a great many
of the subjects to Christian faith and be-
lief, and they seem to take great delight in
religious worship.
Not Allowed to Leave.
1.-THE inmates of Bethesda are not allowed
toleave the peninsula during life, and on this
little neck of land they remain from the time
they are brought there until they are taken
to the burial ground. Christmas and other
festivals are observed at the asylum. and
those in charge try at all times to make
things pleasant for the unfortunate crea
lures who are banished to this retreat as
protection to the health and we'll being Of
the rest of the inhabitants Of the country"
Mr.. Weiss said that. In his opinion, it was
not impossible to effect a cure of the dis
ease in many cases. but the conditions
would have to be particularly favorable to
the patient, and the most careful treatment
would need to be instituted. Scrupulously
clean wards would be necessary, the guards
and physicians would have to exercise the
utmost care, and, more than that, they
would have to be entirely devoted to the
work; In short. give up their lives, perhaps
in the efforts to save leprous patients.
The government of Surinam, said Mr..
Weiss, is lending every possible aid in
furthering the work of those who are en-
deavoring to alleviate the condition Of the
lepers in the country.