Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-02
Rivalry Between Victims.


world. Here there existed in 1902 over
0,000 cases.
Rivalry Between Victims.
TT Is interesting to observe that the peo-
pie of kalaupapa and Kalawao, Uncle
Sans two leper colonies, are apparently
as happy and contented as people could
be under like circumstances. There is
great rivalry between the lepers of Kala-
wac and Kalaupapa. Each town main
tains it's base ball team, it's football
team and Its band. These frequently meet
and contest for prizes Debating societies
exist in both towns, and a leper oratorical
contest Is not unusual. They appear to
enjoy life. Every man, woman and child
In the two colonies Is a politician. Under a
decision of Attorney General Dole six years
ago these people were given the right to
sion in the last six years the leper vote has
decided the election Of delegate to Con-
gress. They love politics. which to them is
favorite pastime.
In the towns of Kalano and Kalaupapa
there are to be found churches of the Prot
estant, Catholic and Mormon faiths. At
kalanao is to be seen the church erected
by Father Damien, known as the leper
martyr, and his tomb constructed by it's
side. His memory is revered by all lepers
In the colony. for he consecrated his life
to work among them and in later years
died with the disease.
blCtu OF 1n1ected Ch1lQren.
Probably the most appalling feature of
these colonies is the frequent birth OF leper
children, who are almost invariably in
fected sooner or later with the disease.
These children when born are allowed to
remain with their parents until they are
four or five years of age, and then If they
fall to show signs of the disease are sent
to detention camps. Here they are held
for years and if the disease does not
make its appearance are released OF
those released more than 20 per cent have
been returned to the leper settlements the
disease making its appearance later in
life.
Two Kinds of Leprosy.
There are two kinds of leprosy, one the
nerves or anaesti1etic leprosy and the other
the tubercular leprosy. Nerve or anaesthet-
ic leprosy begins with tingling or burning
sensation in patches on different parts of
the body. The backs of the hands and the
forearms are the parts thus attacked. Lam
cinating pains along the course of the
nerves are next noticed, and the color of
the integument changes. In some cases 1t
becomes darker, In others the skin pigment
is diminished and the part becomes lighter
than the surrounding skin. Pemphigoid
eruptions are commonly noticed. An eryth-
ematous rash appears over the affected
parts. The pimples vary In size from that OF
a lentil to that of a pea. These spots spread
peripherally and begin to fade first In the
center. The patches gradually fade and
the epidermiS shows tendency to desQua-
mate after the drying up of the eruption.
The complete cessation from the surfaces
of these spots is looked upon by eastern au-
thorities as very important diagnostic
point.
The destruction of the nerves disturbs
nutrition and the sense of feeling. Soon the
most distressing part of the disease mani
tests itself, and the extremities and face
are mutilated. The phalanges either drop
off or become absorbed and disappear. The
nose sinks in, and leaves a CHASTITY looking
patient, whose face can never be forgotten.
The fingers and toes become crooked and
fixed.
The hair drops out from the affected
parts in tubercular leprosy while it be-
comes white in the anaesthetic spots of
nerve leprosy and does not always fall.
There is a great pain about the eyes, nose
cheeks, mouth and limbs. The pain is much
more severe during the night than during
the day. After months or years of suffering
the pain ceases and insensibility sUpervenes.
An eye can be cut into without hurting the
patient. The patients health fails after
years of suffering; he becomes anemic, and
visceral complications arise. Amyloid de-
generation of the kidneys and liver, with
chronic diarrhea, finally puts end to his
suffering and miserable existence.
Tubercular leprosy begins with high
fever and vertigo and swelling of the hands
head and feet. The patients generally suf-
fer with attacks of fever and vertigo They
is well advanced the tubercular or noduIar
masses on the face, with the greasy, shin
ing appearance, cause the patient to look
simply frightful-
There has been a noticeable decrease in
the number of lepers at the detention sta
ton in the last ten years. In 1893 there
were 1,153 This gradually decreased until