The National tribune., 1908-09-17

the man at a safe distance declares that
he can cure the case, he is quite sure.
Leprosy. has a history as old as that
of the human race, and in 5000 years
the cases that have been really, cured
are so rare that they might be counted
on the fingers of one hand. So it will
be seen that Health Officer woodward
has undertaken quite a job il his man
has Ieprosy.
DIR. A. f. Johnson. Past Surgeon
General of the Grand Army of the Re
public, and an eminent physician, whose
large practice of 40 or>rhOre years has
made him a practical student of all such
diseases, is rather inclined to the be-
lief that what is often characterized as
Ieprosy is simply, but awfully after all,
an advanced stage of venereal disease.
He calls attention to the fact that the
Oriental and semi-Orfental countries are
Horribly infected with that disease to
which the Third, Book of Moses is SO
largely devoted, and to the further fact
that in advanced stages the appearance
of the patient is akin to that of a Ieper
diagnosis.
DIR. Johnson is also of the opinion
that Ieprosy and tuberculosis. with the
kindred diseases, are all of syphiIitic
origin In other words, "the fathers
have eaten sour grapes and the teeth
of the. children are on edge" In speak
ing specifically of the. case of
Early, DR.. Johnson says that
his past history is that of a "sol-
dier of fortune" man who has
gone about the world without money,
and who has doubtless come in contact
with the unclean life of Cuba and of
the Philippines. He came to Wash
intou without means, and stopped with
the Salvation Army. In some sections
of the country he would be called a
tramp" The Doctor says that hysteria
is human. and this taking up of such g
man and making a hero of him is char
acteristic of the American people, but
he does not approve of it at all. The
man undoubtedly should be segregated,
in his opinion, for the disease with
which he is probably suffering is a
thousand times more infectious than
leprosy, but that he is having the time
of his life is also the opinion of the
Doctor, as he probably never had all
thatihe wanted of anything in his life
before.
Not only this; his young wife and
child are brought to him and become
objects of charity to the District, when
it would be impossible to arouse single
moments interest in the wife of an aged
veteran, who came to aid and assist her
decrepit husband. DIR. Johnson ventures
the opinion that six months hence most
of the people who have been showering
attentions on. Early will have forgotten
his existence and have taken up some
new fad, while the District will have
him and his family on its hands. the
public will have been scared to death,
and visitors frightened away, all for
hysteria
DIR. Johnson doubts the necessity for
treating Early as pariah. He cites the
fact that in Minnesota lepers live On
farms and transact business. and the
public pays no other attention to them
than to walk on the other side of the
street or road from them if they are
marked people. He says that statistics
do mot show that leprosy is spreading
by infection, and he doubts if a really
sound, healthy man could incur leprOsy.
except by contact where his skin. is
abraded, and if there is no taint in his
blood he might even then escape. He
says that the leprosy might be cem-
municated thru. the smoking of cigars
1t is said that many lepers work in cigar
factories in Cuba. DIR. Johnson cited the
history of lepers in Iceland TO show that
habits of uncleanlineSS with heredity IF
syphilitic diseases predisposed one to
incubation. He also cited the fact that
physicians and nurses seldom incur the
disease, tho Father Damien did incur it
lioHi CofitdSl anu cSSoClrftiol Will IcpciS
in the leper colony. DIR. Johnson also
cites the fact that the children of lep-
rous pare1ts- are not predisposed- to the
disease at birth, there being no such
cases on record, and that the children
who are removed from the leprous con-
ditions and surroundings never develop
the disease. 1t is stated as a scientific
fact that among the Iepers of Minnesota.
mostly Norwegian in birth. none of their
children have developed the disease. DR.
Johnson states that leprosy is exceed
ingly rare under one year, and may be
said to be rare up to the sixth year. He
therefore, with other eminent
authority. that leprosy is very feebly
contagious when close and prolonged
contact is eliminated. DIR. johnson states
that leprosy occurs chiefly in those
countries where fish is the principaI1
diet, and where the inhabitants are
largely engaged im fishing Yet it is also
true that no Ieprossr bacilli has ever
been found in a fish. DR.. Johnson thinks
that segregation is the best way .oI
stamp out leprosy. caring for the indi-
gent ones in an asylum. and allowingl
thoss whose people arr able to do sos toi
care for them i'll their homes With
care. under law offfcerl
whose duty it shall be to enforce the
regulations. he thinks there would Del
no occasion for concern about tflnj
spread of the diseases In hts opinion it'll
is the duty Of Mrs. Early tor take. careI
80 II