The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
LEPROSY FROM EATING FISH.
DR.. Hutchinson Finds support OF This
Theory In India.
Special Cab. Despatch to THE Sun.

Special Gable Despatch TO THE Sun.
LONDON, April ii.-Jonathan Hutchin-
son, +. r. s., has returned to England after
a tour OF investigation in India as to the
cause and prevention OF leprosy, especially
in reference to the hypothesis which as
signs the foremost position among the
causes of the disease to the use Of unwhole-
some food.
Twelve years ago the Prince OF Wales's
committee, which was sent TO India, re-
jected this hypothesis. but Or. Hutchinson's
latest vestigations have convinced him
that the committee If it had pursued its re-
searches more deeply would not have re-
jected it. DR.. Hutchinson's general con-
clusion is that the facts do not controvert
the hypothesis, while some Of them AFFORD
unassailable support OF lit, the truth OF which
his inquiries In South Africa last year con-
WINGED him.
DR.. Hutchinson's tour Of India included
visits to Colombo. Madras. Lahore, Cali
cutta and Bombay. where he held public
meetings and discussions, and also visits
to the leper asylums at Colombo. Madras.
Calcutta, Purula, Asonsal, Agra. Tarntaran,
Jullundur and Bombay.
He visited in Ceylon all the lepers who had
been fish eaters. In Madras and Calcutta
each OF the lepers with the single exception
Of a high-caste Brahmin. denied that they
had ever eaten fish. In Bombay there was
one doubtful exception. In Agra. Tarn-
taran and Jullunder there were several
exceptions. OF the 500 inmates OF the
Purulia asylum, all had habitually eaten
Of fish, and many believed that this had
caused the disease. Some had left OF eating
IL on that account. The majority Of those
who had not eaten fish were patients who
had contracted the disease In early life.
In accounting for these. DR.. Hutchinson
suggests .commensal communication
spreads the disease to slight extent in
community where II has once originated.
without it becoming contagious in the
ordinary sense of the word. Commensal
or mouth communication, conveyed the
disease by eating food directly from the
hands OF a leper. or otherwise receiving
the bacillus by the mouth.
The prevalence OF tho disease in the
whole population of India is not greater
than Ave in 10 700, which is about the same
percentage as in Norway, but not single
district il entirely free from the disease
1t Is always more prevalent in or near the
fishing places. In Ceylon, where the fish
cries are 30 unproductive that the greater
portion Of fish consumed must be imported.
the incidence Of leprosy Is less than two
per 10000. In Minicoy, the adjacent fish
exporting island, where the inhabitants
eat fish four times a day. the percentage is
$50 In 10000. In the Bombay asylum there
are 400 inmates. the majority Of whom are
from the great fishing district Of Konkan.
During eight years there have been no
jams and only one Parsee patient. The
jams are strict vegetarians. During the
same period the island of Salsette. which
has a population Of 5000. was the only
Christian community which sent patients
to the asylum. The Salsetters are all
Roman Catholics who observe all fast
days and the majority Of them are actually
engaged In the fishing trade.