New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
CULION LEPER COLONY.
Efforts TO Eradicate Disease in the
Philippines.
rFrom The Trlbune Rureau-l

washington, June 1.-The United States gov
ernnent has adopted a policy and is carrying
4, out systematically for the comfort of the
five thousand lepers In the Philippines. The
authorities were amazed when they came to
look into the situation TO find so many afflicted
with this dread disease, but, beginning with the
army surgeons who first took up the work of
Segregation. the task OF caring for the patients
and protecting the rest of the community from
the disease has gone on assiduously until the
experts now hold out the gratifying promise
that Ieprosy may be finally eradicated from the
Philippine Islands.
Those who have looked into the history OF the
treatment Of leprosy find that while attention
has been given for many years to lepers. the
work has been mainly Of a charitable nature
and was not carried on systematically or in
such q way as 10 control the situation The
help and treatment were largely given TO those
people who could not take care of themselves
who had no friends to provide for them
There were many lepers who could not become
public charges. and they were allowed to live
as they pleased, and in this way the disease
spread 1t vas not until the last year or two
that it was possible TO provide complete fsoIa-
ton
This step was taken by the construction on
the Island OF Culon, OF leper colony, where
there are at present accommodations for Sno
PATIENTS nearly all Of whom are on hand The
estimate for taking care ultimately of the four
to five thousand lepers on the island gave the
cost Of subsistence, material for houses. cloth
Ing, transportation. etc, TO maintain then, all
Is about . cents day for each person. II Is
possible that the estimated number Of Ieners Go
somewhat exaggerated, because when the doc
n ayar oira
pected Of leprosy they found that many of them
were not so afflicted. II the same proportion is
maintained throughout the examination of
course the estimated total will be roateriarIv
reduced.
There are many problems connected with +bo
caring for the Iepers in the PbiIinnines One
Of these is their enployrnent wbi1e o,,,,
small proportion Of the patients are capable.
from the nature OF their disease. Of perforrninp
manual labor. many Of them might engage in
ule hghter occupations in the manufacture Of
articles which could be sold; but there is preiu-
oice, natural enough under the circumstances.
against purchasing or possessing articles han
oed by iepers and this prejudice is not removed
- ule lact mat the experts pronounce the dan
SCI u contamination removed by the process OF
s'elll-ZatorL one proposition is to raise cattle
involving light occupation in which many of
tHe ieperS might engage 1t Is believed there
"0uio De no objection on the part Of the public
10 ouy the meat thus obtained, because cattle
" not contract leprosy and could be slaughtered
Oy noh-leprous persons. with the additional pro-
lection that the meat is necessarily cooked be-
fore being eaten
Inc colony at culion is in charge Of a medical
O-lcer "ho is assisted by a priest Of the Jesuit
order Father Wales. with whom are assoct-
aleo Sisters OF Charity belonging to the order of
o. vincent de Paul. who act as nurses for those
requiring such attention
1here are some one hundred and fifty nfpa
nouSes on the island. each with accommodations
iOf seven or eight patients The new town Is
iocatec on a height, with every advantage of
eOoo scenery and good air Admirable drink
'1s water Is furnished by modern methods, and
me place has such features as bathrooms and
'Ilef conEeniences OF civilization.
means are taken to interest the patients In
'1nous ways Among other provisions is a
0ano OF forty pieces for which the musical in
Slfufnents have been purchased in the United
states The inhabitants have practically their
'*h government, so far as local affairs are In