Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-08

United States government to quarantine
support and care for Mr.. Early just a.
the state OF North Carolina should do Il
any citizen of another state found suffer.
ing with leprosy within its borders, and
then emphasizes the statement that he
was a leper when he was discharged from
the United States service, and, therefore
the United States government from
moral standpoint should continue to care
for him
State Could Not Discover Disease.
Il regret that he has either overlooked
or ignored most important factor in
connection with this case. and that 10
that no matter when or where Mr.. Early
contracted the disease 1t developed at
his home town in North Carolina over
one year ago. and that during that entire
period he has borne the same visible
signs of the malady that he did when he
reached this jurisdiction on the l4th ul.
tlmo, and does today, and this being an
incoutrovertible fact, | am at loss to
understand why the North Carolina au-
thCrities or the local nhy sicians neglected
or failed to make the discovery at any
time during the past fifteen months that
Mr.. Early was suffering with that dis.
ease. when we were able to do so within
a few days after he reached the District
of Columbia.
Had 1t been SO discovered he would
then, or at least should have been, quar-.
antined and cared for within the border,
of that state, and he would not have ther
become a ward of the District of Column.
bia. While the assistant attorney general
Is laying stress on the duty of the United
states government from moral stand
point because the government, by grant
the claim that the disease was con.
tracted while in its service, he Ger.
tainly overlooks the duty that his
state owes toward the District govern.
ment from this same moral standpoint fol
letting their citizen, leper, become Q
menace and expense to us.
L have no opinion TO express as ia
the federal governments duties In the
premises. They will, doubtless, at the
proper time speak for themselves. But ]
do wish to say that while they are quib.
bling over that phase of the situation
North Carolina should have Mr.. Early
and keep him until that question is set.
tied, and thus save this community OF an
expense that never should have been
thrust upon it,
''The statement of the assistant attorney
general that 1t would be almost impos.
sible to have Mr.. Early transported. az
no common carrier would knowinglJ
carry him. is at most but an expression
of his personal belief. not settled FACT
by any means. The same may be said OF
his comment that II will be Impossible
for the journey to be made without COM
munication with people throughout Thu
COulu anu WOuiu Hldhc II poS'
sible for no such communication to exist
Il am glad to see that even the pres.
ident of the board of health of North
Carolina does not share his views respect.
ing the quarantine of Mrs. Early and het
child should they return home. think,
however, that the doctor Is asking us ia
do what should be done in his own juris-
diction when he suggests that Mrs. Early
and her child be subjected by us to
mcroscopical test diagnosis to see II In
them the leDrOus bacillus Is present and.
if it was not, that we give a certificate to
that effect, and 1t would save her from
isolation, etc.
What If it did show the presence OF
the bacillus? Then, / presume, we would
be told that 1t was our duty to keep Mrs.
Early and her child also. l do not believe
that we will undertake to aid North Caro-
lima in adding to our present perpleXities.'