Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-11-11
Guam's MaIady More Frightful
Than Leprsoy In Its
Fatal Effects.
MANY SURGEONS MAKE STUDY
Strange AtIction, Which MutiIates
the Face and in Numerous Instan-
81 80. 70. si:2 IL
ces the Limbs, Is Causing Serious
Consideration by omciaIs-Nccess
',y Of Money to Fight Plague.

WASHINGTON Nov. lO.-Mcasurcs
for combating an incurable disease.
prevalent among the natives Of Guam.
which usually attacks ana mutilatcs
tho face, ana in numerous instances
the limbs, and which Is described by
medical men OF tho United States
army and navy MS being more fright.
I ful than leprosy, arc under serious
consideration BY Navy Department
officials.
The disease is known us "gangosa,
Is contagious, and has existed on tha
island since 1921. During tho eight
years or American occupation, with
no system or isolation In effect, the
disease, II Is said has Increased rap.
Idly and nlarmngy.
Recently report OH the disease
was submitted to Surgeon General
Rixey. OF the United States navy.
by Surgeon L. Il. Stitt. stationed mt
Guam and parts Of this report Will
Do embodied In the Forthcoming re.
port OF tho surgeon general OF the
navy 10 Secretary OF the Navy Bona.
partc.
At present there are about 200
cases on the island, which has II pop.
nlation OF about 5000, nlncAentha OF
whom can rend and write, declai es
Surgeon Stitt's report
Must Act Promptly.
Tho statements Of Capt. Duartr, at
present CHIEF Justice OF Guam, aui
formerly u captain IN tho Spanish
army, show that at the time of Amer.
lean occupation there were only about
forty cases In tho Island. The only
means by which the disease can poss-
IDLY be checked. the report says. IL
by taking measures when ii Is In its
ineiplency ~
The disease usually attacks its
victims during the second decade OF
life. Pure blooded natives arc most
susceptible to attack, tho apparent
Immunity Of white aiid mixed races
being due, the report says, to better
..hygien,c and tlktfetic environment.
Nothfhs,sd efihite In reference TO the
etiology of the disease liz known by
he medical men OF the navy, but 1t
Is thought that the dust from tho
coral formations may Influence the
affection as II Is most liable to an.
pear during tho dry season.
Evidence In Agana the capital Of
Guam, which contains two thirds of
Tho population of the island. indicates
that the disease runs through fam
illes-eight members Of ono family
having been known TO have boon
attacked.
Family of Six Has Disease.
In the gangosa colony, a; Ypao,
thore Is family of six with the
affection, and the report also gives
instances OF the disease in families
previously we'll, after II residence In
n house which had been formerly
occupied BY "gangosas." 1t is belle.
we'd By medical men OF the island
TO be less infectious than tubcrcu.
losis. but more so than leprosy.
Surgeon rStitt says there arc forty.
ono cases now isolated ut Ypao, and
In addition to this there arc thirty.
SIX cases at liberty in different parts
OF the island. These have been exam
ined by medical officers. He thinks
1t would be conservative cstimat,
to say there are more than 100 cases
in outlying parts OF the island.
Although chiefly confined to natives
the disease, the report says, has in
one instance attacked n white man.
The liability Of gangosa TO sudden
recurrence after period of quies
sence, makes it peculiarly dungeons
encc. makes it peculiarly dangerous
: of the Spanish indicates that only by
methods of segregation can a spread
x OF the disease be prevented.
This is the opinion also OF the
governor Of Guam, who considers thu
matter CT continuing the prophylac
tic measure Of segregation so urgent
that he has recently strongly request.
ed the Navy Department. by telegram
and letter, to afford him necessary
financial relief for the continuance
of the measure.
In recent letter to the Navy De
partment, Commander Potts says he
will be forced to release not only the
"gangosas," but the lepers as we'll
Il unless tho sum CT $4,000 n year is
II allowed him for the maintenance OF
the leper colony at Tumon and the
gangosa colony at Ypao