The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-14
LEPERS NOW WORRY
i. 5. ARMY SURGEONS
One Soldier Victim Gagged
Up for Life.
FEAR FOR THE PHILIPPINES
Suspicious That Mingling of the Races
May Spread the Disease to the
Whites-Louisiana' Case.
FEAR FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Confined in a cage-l like structure on
Tybee Island. off the coast Of Georgia, is
one of Uncle Sans soldiers who has
been stricken with leprosy and whose
future is a matter of speculation to him
self and source of worry TO the medi-
cal department of the army, and to the
Marine Hospital Service.
The surgeons refuse absolutely, to
make known the name of the unfortunate,
and il is said that even his family has
not been notified of his condition. The
officials assert that leprosy is con-
tagious disease, but it is not so regarded
IN the eyes of the law, ana should his
relatives begin legal proceedings 20 OBJ
tain possession of him. it is believed
they would succeed.
Army Has No Hospital.
From Acting Surgeon General De
Witt of the United States army, it is
learned that the disposal of the soldier
is causing worry because tie army has
no hospital in which such diseases are
treated. The surgeons dislike to place
the sufferer in an institution with other
men because, notwithstanding The many
researches and experiments made by
scientists, little is known as to the ex-
act character of the disease It may be
spread by contact, so far as the au-
thorities can learn
The residents of Savannah, Ca, are
aroused over the presence of the man
so near the city, and not long ago they
petitioned Secretary Root 20 have him
removed They sought to have him sent
TO the Sapalo quarantine station
Secretary Root referred the matter
TO the Surgeon General. who. declined to
interfere. The man. said Acting Surgeon
General De Witt. is so We'll isolated that
no danger OF contagion exists.
Marine Hospital Service Declines.
An attempt was made. however, to in
duce the Marine Hospital Service, which
has the proper facilities TO care for ali
such diseases. to take charge Of the
man. but the surgeons of this branch
of the Government refused to have any
thing to do with the case
The army has its own hospital SER
vice, surgeons. and everything needfui
to care for its own men Therefore.
keep him yourself was the gist of the
answer received from the headquarters
in the old Benjamin Butler mansion on
Capitol Hill. Thus ended the MarineI
Hospital proposition.
The matter was then called to the
attention of the authorities in charge
CT the Louisiana Leper Home up the
river from New Orleans. The authori-
ties remained silent.
Thus. the soldier, who has lost his
number en- the roster of the army, viii
remain in his cage. unless something
Unforeseen happens, until he dies.
This poor. former bIuecoat. however,
has started line of thought in the Med
ical Corps OF the army which is certain
to prevent any other man from suffering
in tie future what he is undergoing to-
day-imprisonmont for life, because he
contracted 2 disease.
Mystery Caused Dread.
The mystery with which the case is
surrounded by the authorities lends col
or TO the reports in circulation not long
ago that the soldiers are liable to con
tract the disease in the Philippines. and
the other Of the Eastern lands.
This being the case, it is only mat
ter OF time before the army will be com
PEELED 10 make arrangements to care for
victims
Despite assertions to tho contrary
leprosy is existent in the Philippines,
and that it win be spread TO the Cauca-
SLAMS by the Asiatics is illustrated be-
ycnd question by what happened in Lou
isiana. The disease was brought into
that State. so the records say. By the
Asiatic pirates who came to serve in
the craft operating under Lafitte and
others IN the Gulf Of Mexico.
These pirates came from China. the
Malay Peninsula. the Philippines, and
elsewhere on the Indian Ocean Des-
cendants Of them, especially the Fill
pinos. are still found in villages such as
St. Malo and Barataria IN the vast
marshes along the Louisiana coast.
The earliest records tell OF these men
suffering from leprosy.
That danger exists again because of
the mingling Of the races in the East is
admitted
CAVEAT IN CAIN WIFI CASE