Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-26
TO HEAL OUR LEPERS
Scientific Treatment Inaugu-
rated on Molokai Island.
EXTENT OFTHESCOURGE
CASES EXIST IN TWENTY-ONE
DIFFERENT STATES.
Porto Rico, the Philippines and Sew
eral Gulf States all Have Their
Leper Colonies.

copyright 1905 by John Elfreth Watkins.)
To at last seek a means Of healing the
leper-that hitherto incurable and always
most pitiable of outcaStS--Dr. Walter wy
man, surgeon general of the public health
and marine hospital service of the federal
government will forthwith erect upon the
beautiful island of Molokai. Hawaii. an In
teresting institution to be known as
"lepresarium."
ITpon a peninsula of eight square miles
iutting out from the northern coast OF
Molokai, is located our territorial leper
colony. shut off from the remainder or the
island by a range of bold, precipitous and
rugged cliffs Beyond this steep range
which stands as discouraging barrier
against the escape of the 900 lepers OF the
settlement-a mile square of land has just
been turned over by the territorial author
tiles for this new hospital and experiment
station No more advantageous spot TOT
such research could be found upon eartn,
and in The two villages. Kalaupapa and
Kalawao, situated within the colony, the
physicians in charge will find convenient
for study all phases of the terrible disease.
Not a Melancholy Place.
These two groups of white cottages and
churches. surrounded by tropical fruits and
flowers and inclosed by fences of stone or
lava. are not the melancholy and somber
places which you had In your minds eye a
moment ago Chief Quarantine Officer CO.
fer who visited them recently and reported
their condition to the public health service.
said that among TIE 400 lepers VINO stood
upon the wharf when landed on Molokai
he saw a number of distorted faces, but not
an unhappy one He could but admire the
hopeful and cheerful manner in which the
colonists resigned themselves to their rate
The greater part were gally dressed IN
their holiday clothes-the men in white
duck trousers and straw hats of the latest
fashion A leper band was discOursing i've
ly music and things in general took on the
appearance of a country fair. Many or the
lepers have saddle horses, and while eXer-
cising thereupon enjoy some OF the most
beautiful tropic scenery to be had In Ha-
wall Some earn pocket money by working
in the "taro' patches OF the settlement
where are grown those starchy tubers from
which the Hawaiian makes his esteemed
pol" The fresh water from the cool
mountain springs IS piped to their settle
ments All of the necessities of life, In
Guiding food shelter and clothing--even
matches kerosene and soap-are furnished
to them gratis by the government. and
what extra pin money they earn may be In
vested at the board of health store for
the little foibles and vanities of life. This
mercantile establishment, kept by ieper
employe of the board takes in some $4,000
or more per year, expended in luXuries con-
tributing to the happiness of the optimistic
outcasts.
Can No Longer Touch Visitors.
Until a few years ago friends and rela-
tfves were allowed to visit the lepers Of
Molokai only once a year, but the terrific
rial board Of health, under our improved
regime. has lately ruled that such visits
may be made at any time. This innova-
ton, Of course. brought much happiness to
the little colony, but by way of reciprocal
ton the government now exacts that per-
sonal contact between lepers and their WIS.,
itors must not occur; whereas. formely
visitors might embrace and kiss their dis
eased friends, the former are now marched
from the steamer landing to corral with
double fence, and the lepers may gather
about and talk to them only through the
bars No lepers are allowed within the
spacious grounds Of the superintendent
home. Once each year the Hawaiian poard
of health visits the colony. inspects all of
the buildings and takes luncheon at the
superintendent's dwelling. After this re-
freshment the president goes to- the gate
of the Enclosure and announces himself
ready to listen to any complaints and Pc
titions from the colonists.
| About 1856 healthy persons live within the
colony and contribute to the happiness or
| comfort Of the lepers. Some seventy Of
these are employed to feed and otherwise
care for helpless lepers. about eighty are
non-leprous children of lepers and the re-
mainder are employees of the administrative
| department - servants, Catholic brothers
and sisters. 1t is the general opinion that,
| In time, these normal ones will become
| lepers. About one of their ranks falls q
victim each year.
One of the sights of the colony is the
grave Of Father Damien, at Kalawao. Ad-
| jacent Is the church built by this good mar
tyr. Joseph de Veuster Damien was Bel