Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-10-14
Washington, D. c., special.-John

Washington, D. c., Special.-John
R. Early, formerly of Lynn, N. c.,
who has been pronounced leper, and
on this account has been kept isolated
in a tent under the guard of the health
authorities of the District of Colum-
bia, declares that he does not now and
never has admitted that he is afflicted
with leprosy. He took stiff, decided
stand against the idea of his having
leprosy Friday when the physicians
who have charge of his treatment
proposed to inject what is known as
the Nastin treatment, being a series
Of injections of filtrate of leprosy
into his body. He said that he did
not have leprosy and that the injec-
tion might give it % him.
DR.. W. C. Fowler, of the District
health department, claims, on the
other hand, that he and the other
physicians who have examined Early
are "absolutelY certain" that Early
has leprosy. Says he:
eff Early is not suffering from lep-
rosy, no man ever had that disease.
There is no doubt in the world about
his having leprosy, and we infer from
the fact that he has remained silent
throughout the past month that he is
convinced. We appreciate, as much
as Early or any one else, what q Sc
rious thing it would be to isolate
man unless we were absolutely certain
he was afflicted with leprosy."
Early insists that there is q mis-
take and expresses a desire and an in
tention, if it shall be allowed, of hav-
ing himself examined by other physi-
clans. DR.. Fowler says further:
fThe health Office does not deny
Early the right to have himself ex-
amined by any doctor, scientist.
pathologist, or medical man be may
see fit to employ. He was pronounced
leper by a doctor who has seen
hundreds of cases. Besides this, the
appearance Of his face and body, the
swellings so characteristic Of leprosy,
and the way he tells attending doc
tors how he feels prove beyond any
shadow of a doubt that he is leper
and should be isolated for the COM
mon good"
Since it has been decided that the
State Of North Carolina cannot be
required by law to take care Of Early,
and since he has been granted pen
sion by the Pension Bureau, careful
consideration has been given to the
question as to what shall be done
with him. He is still in his tent over
on the banks of the Potomac river,
near the smallpox hospital, in what
has been termed by some an exceed
ingly unheslthful locality, though
there is another opinion about the
healthfulness of the place. His wife
has rented cottage nearby, and she
visits him every day, spending several
hours talking with him. Guards are
stationed there to see that she does
not come into personal contact with
him, and she is kept under watch,
and will be. So long as she does not
touch him, the authorities say there
is not the slightest danger OF con-
tagion through her..
The hoalth officials have plan for
erecting cottage for Early and his
family, maintining guard at the
home day and night. 1t may even
be that Mrs. Early will be permitted
to live with her husband in the same
room, provided she agrees to isolate
herself for the rest Of her life. But
the details of the plan have not been
completed yet. The health officials
realize the great difficulty of keeping
husband and wife apart when they
are determined upon uniting. 1t is
about as difficult a task as making
husband and wife live with each other
when they do rot want to. But they
are turning their minds to Che solu-
tion of the problem, however difficult.
Early meantime continue to read
his Bible and to philosophize, as has
been his wont since his. first segrega-
tion.-Zach MctIee in Charlotte OBJ
cay1,or