New-York tribune., 1906-08-05
LIGHT UPON LEPROSY.
Auersion an Ancient Prejudice
Disease Not Contagious.

!
Sir: In view of the fact that are having
another eruption Of fooIishness regarding leprosy
ana its dangers to community. have thought
! II wise TO ask you to publish the accompanying
records OF the proceedings OF the Board Of Health
/ and or the Medical Society of the County OF New
York in 1896. At that time had the honor serve
as Commissioner OF Health under the administration
/ Of Mayor Strong
The same hysterical views prevailed then among
| the general public and uniformed physicians re-
sarding this disease as now. and great cruelty and
injustice were hurled at every poor creature who
| presented the slightest manifestation Of it,
decided TO put stop to the humbug If possible.
and endeavor to bring common sense and proper
consideration TO bear In the disposition of such
| cases.
DR.. Charles F. Roberts the long experienced and
! competent sanitary superintendent. wrote COM
! nunicaton to the Board of Health explaining the
attitude which had been gradually assumed by the
/ department in its dealings with leprosy and en-
6odyns his and views regarding the grave
errors being committed and setting forth the rea-
sons for change of policy I regret to say that.
| on account of Difference public opinion this re-
port was laid on the table at meeting OF the full
| board. though approved by myself. the sanitary
committee
then had recourse to the Medical Society of the
/ County Of New York which appointed committee
OF mat society, consisting of three expert der
matologists. a general practitioner Of high stand
| Ing and myself 10 -eport upon the of lepers
/ IN the United States The committee visited the
lepers at North Brother Island gave careful atten
ton to every point involved and submitted its
! port to the society, which adopted Influenced
by this procedure. the Board Of Health reconsdered
its action and the epers returned respective
homes Since these ten years very little has been
heard of ieprosy in or about New York City. nor
have any instances of contagion been reported to
my knowledge.
This report together with that of DR.. Roberts. I
tory near U an s il sSoaS 5rTe ngTe ano n meae IL in
degree. treatment
these unfortunates have been subjeeted
No. IS East 5sth street, New YORK. Aug. 4 1906
Report of DR.. Charles F. Roberts. Sanitary su-
LEPROsY
on October 8 1885 forwarded a communication
There are al present present in IN riverside Hospital
North Brother Island FIVE men suffering from
IepTosy. Names, ages, etc, as follows:
Date Of How long
Gerald Psters St viI,cents Isd oct 81 95. so days
sam Loo. China June 80 ,96 II: years
Fredk Fleming. Germany. Sept IL SO = years
These men are confined to one pavilion. "a by 50
lowed 10 take exercise in a portion OF the ground
'Leprosy is a disease which is undoubtedly com
muncabe. but most Of the authorities OF the pres
ent day are OF the opinion that the same Is QUE ute
TO infection and not 70 contagion, and conmunl-
OF the disease, and that is the condition OF the
above named men.
many of the medical profession in regard 10 leprosy
1t is undoubtedly true that this infection is
or from those in the last stages Of the disease,
possibly in the same manner as phthislsi II ser GER
tainly is not much more communicable thah
phthisis; and. these cases being of mild type,
gated @ nq By tbemseVes % s R this small Three
of them do understand English. They are de;
prived of all society except their company and
tS IS wrong or 'G II they we're allowed to H return to their
own /
feel positive that harm would accrue to those
This deprivation of their rights and contact
With the world is hardship and nd an lnJastce-
This communication was referred 70 the sanitary
99am een nRa Of f the he oa the approving
the same was laid the table and the question in
was brought before the Medical Society of the
pointed 10 investigate the same. and report was
made by that committee % to tnH Meaieal society OF
'-'s New York December IS, 1896.
ITO the Medical Society OF the County Of New
"Gentiemen Your committee appointed to re-
City and the Importance Of It's segregation here
1T is agreed that leprosy is probably an infec-
"A disease though infectious. is not necessarily
In certain regions leprosy is prevalent or en-
communicated from individual TO individual; that
is. is contagious, though the mode Of contagion Is
There are other regions TO which lepsrs have
long had more less free access by immigration.
and in which numbers of them have lived for COM
paratively long periods, and yet that aIora no
of the disease. The same exposure through the IN
PRODUCTION and proximity OF lepers that In scme
regions has sufficed to cause rapid and offensive
spread of leprosy in other places. though OFT re-
peated and long continued has never produced any
appreciable effect injurious TO the public health.
Such favored regions comprise most of the more
highly civilized parts or the gone' incluoing that
1T would appear therefore. that other conditions
than that of mere proximity are essential i setore
What these other conditions are, whether they re
late to location. soil climate food mode or napts
of their absence that this and other similarly
favored localities have thus FAR RENAMED eXe,nipI
experience Of the past. whatever prospective danger
there may be from this source. 1t is not such as TO
In regions where the disease is apparently on the
increase through the Development OF new cases
and segregation may be Justhable and proper.
ITO adopt The principle OF sesnefation cation mere ana n
unnecessarily arbitrary and, therefore, unJusthahle
II would be. on the part OF me 2utn3TlIies VINO
existence Of a serious danger to the community,
when in reality the danger Is slsn1 and by so
ca ~ yictirns tbaf Is already excessive
'.The indscriminate enforcement of this measure
wouo 49,, eI1er5 sI1soiailv 70 such as are so crcim-
man ~" ~ he indeDendent of public charity
Moreover, there is reason TO believe that in such
cases confinement to a leprosary would the
would pursue were the patient not deprived of his
"As to whether indgent lepers, dependent upon
p1lblIc charity should he accorded the same privi-
eges in general institutions as are gwen TO Ia{shts
assigned exclusively to institution set apart for
ipal authorities must decide.
''Inasmuch as lepers are not desirable additions
10 community ana are li1oe 5 20 oeCoaS PIplt tst
the quarantine and immigration authorizes should
,ls4Ta oil tirh ca