The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-11-10
IN
LOUISIANA
"A PANICKY FEAR PRE- TAILlNG IN
THE PUBLIC MIND GREATLY IN
TERFERES WITH SEGREGATION

DR.. Quitman Kohnke, president Of
Isadore Dyer, president of the Loui-
siana Leper Board and the Rev. Albert
Brevor, S. j., have lately returned to
New Orleans from a visit to the Loui-
siana Leper Home at Indian Camp
Plantation. Their visit has shown an
encouraging condition of affairs there,
and possibility of curing the disease
and of terminating it in Louisiana,
where it has prevailed for nearly a
century. The only difficulty in the
way is the popular fear of the disease
unfortunate lepers, but also against
the authorities in their efforts to era
dictate the disease.
1t was eradicated in Louisiana by the
Spanish Government more than a hum
dred years ago, but revived later along
the lower Lafourche, in consequence
of the smuggling slave trade that CEN
tered about Lafitte's pirate stronghold.
Nothing of any moment was done to
fight the plague until a few years ago,
when under the pressure of public OPT
MON THE State decided to take emerge
tic steps to get rid of leprosy.
The plan proposed was thoroughly
practical and promising. Provision was
made for the erection of a lepers' home
and laws were passed authorizing the
sheriffs and District Judges to commit
ali lepers to the home. thus to segregate
them and. without any hardship to the
lepers, prevent an extension of the d.
sease. A great deal has been ac-
complislhed in this line; but complete
success has been prevented by the
great popular dread of the disease.
A lease was secured of the Indian
Camp Plantation, in Iberville parish,
one of the most retired spots in the
world, in spite of the fact that 1t is on
the Mississippi river, some eighty miles
above New Orleans. The lease had to
be made privately so as not to arouse
the opposition of people in the neigh
borhood. When it was announced
there was a loud protest, but it was too
late to stop what had been done.
The site was found unsatisfactory.
1t is too damp, the buildings are in bad
candition, and 1t Is too retired. Tt was
desired to establish the home within
easier reach of New Orleans, so that
physicians might have
an opportunity of studying the disease.
In consequence another plantation,
Elkhorn, just above New Orleans, in
Jefferson parish, wals purchased for
the lepeTs. 1t was an ideal spot, Sc
cluded, yet within easy reach of the
great city. The moment the news OF
the purchase leaked out, the buildings
on the plantation were burned to the
ground by the people of the neighbor-
hood. They paid the amount of the
loss to the Leper Board, but they de-
clared that they would not permit a
leper colony in their neighborhood, and
that they would continue to burn down
every building erected there for that |
purpose.
The Leper Board was compelled to |
abandon it's project of removing the |.
home and the leper home remained in |
Indian Camp. The board attempted to !
make them more comfortable there, but |
public perjudice has proved a serious |
obstacle in the way.
A great improvement was made when |
an attending physician was secured in |
the person of DR.. Ralph Hopkins, for !
previously the lepers had received only |
attention. Provision GJr /
their religious needs was similarly
made when Father Pierce Lafon retir-