The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-23
CURE FOR LEPROSY
REMARKABLE MEDICAL REPORT
 TO LOUISIANA ASSEMBLY,.
Pelican State Instftutlon Has Made Many Remarkable Strides Toward Htdding Disease of fits Most
 L0athaome Features

New Orleans, La, June 22.-A re- markable medical report, touching on the curing of leprosy, will be presented to the Louisiana Assembly probably this week by the Leper Home of the State of Louisiana.
 In this report appear the words: Discharged, cured-one." Practically well and kept for observation--five"
 Briefly explained the meaning ,of these figures is that out of sixty-one lepers at the Louisiana institute in the past two years, six have been practical ly cured. The figures are from the bi- ennial report of the Leper Home, where for over 13 years this State has provided place for lepers to receive the, comforts and the skilled medical care which are not as a rule within reach of the sufferers from this malady
 A fact of significance Is that this re- port is not submitted to the Assembly as indicating that any specific cure for Leprosy has been discovered. The re- port is simply a statement of the re- suits which have been obtained from giving patients the same sanitary sur roundings that the average person en- joys and equal opportunity to receive first class medical treatment. The rem edies used at the home are those which for many years have been known to medical practice as beneficial to Iepro- sy.
 LOuisiana's Long Strides.
 That Louisiana has made a long stride toward stripping leprosy of the miseries traditionally associated with the disease, was demonstrated by an inspection of the home in connection with the report to the Assembly. Wis itors not only are admitted to the Lepers quarters, but their presence there is by no means infrequent.
 The inspection party was agreeabIy surprised to find as compared with the average hospital the home was cheerful place to visit. Instead of be- ing isolated, the institution faces the public highway along the Mississippi River Levee in Iberville Parish. In occupies the Indian camp plantation, an estate of about 400 acres. covered with moss hung oaks, and retaining still much of its ante bellum grandvIr.
 A row of seven modern cottages, con taining all the most up to date con- veniences, constitute the Leper quar- ters. A surgical building and a small but handsome catholic church complete this group of Leper buildings. About 200 yards away stands the now dilapidated plantation house. bare even of most necessary conveniences which for 13 years has been the home of the four to six sisters of charity who al- most completely have cared for all the wants of the Lepers. from nursing to cooking and sweeping. None of these sisters ever has caught the dis ease and apparently none of them fear 1t. The same is true of the Catholic priest who lives in a cottage midway between the plantation house and the leper quarters, and whose religious ser vices nearly all the lepers attend.
 Handsome Creole Patient.
 The first leper seen by the inspec- tion party was particularly remarked. He was a handsome Creole. and phy- sician's diagnosis that he had leprosy would have been surprise to the av- craze observer. His appearance was to a noble degree typical of alarge num- Der of the other inmates. Due to good care, wholesome food and pleasant sur roundings many of the patients were as agreeable as this Creole.
 From children to old people and the ages ranged from seven years to ed and some undoubtedly were hap py.
 From pleasures to policies, they were taking a very normal interest in the every day affairs of life.
 One of the most curious proofs of the humane work accomplished by the home was to talk with lepers who spoke or their discovery dS IT IL were an event ordinary in their disease. and who, moreover. exhibited at least some physical proofs to justify their hopes. The degree of freedom enjoyed by these Iepers is startling. There are no stockades, no high fences no armed guards nor even night watchmen to prevent them from escaping from the home at will. The one strong bond which holds them to the institution is tha self sacrificing care and interest of the sisters of charity in making them comfortable and contented.
 Some Lepers Escape.
 The failure of the state to provide any except theoretical restraints upon the freedom of the patients has been Tbta haa ranred from nocturnal hunt ing and ashing expeditions of the le- p9rs ofY their own grounds, to whole