The Washington times., 1908-09-03
Little Folk Aid Family
Of WaShingtOn'S S Lepsr

been for the people OF washington,
said Mrs. LOttie Early, wife OF the lep-
eT, this morning. Those days were
the darkest in my life, and as 1 look
back upon them Il seems that every
thing thar occurred was Clouded and l
remember little that happened. One
thing, only stands out viyidly, and that
IS the sympathy OF kind friends. ana
the spirit OF the people who came 10
our aid. What might have happened
TO us in any other city than this l dare
not contemplate"
Just before starting out 10 the Ieper
camp today, 10 visit her husband. Mrs.
Early. her eIeven-months-old baby IN
her arms. referred TO The fund and
asked The Times 10 again express ner|
deep gratitude 10 the people Of Wash
ington. With the prospect or destitu-
tion banished. she IS almost cheerful.
and the mask OF sorrow that was set
over her features, is giving away to
look Of hope.
Gets Notice of Pension.
She received official notice from Pen
sion Commissioner Warner this morn
ing Of the decision OF the pension board
TO grant her husband pension for dis
ability In the service. and hat, too.
has served to dispel the Gisrisi prospect
of life of want and distress.
This pension money, however. will
have 10 be used 10 pay Nh. Earlys ex-
penses in his isolated abode. the Dis
trict officials having declared their in
tention Of Withdrawing their support,
and the money which she vii receive
from the fund viii be needed &c es-
tablish her i'm a little home.
The contributions are flowing into the
fund faster every day. Every mail
brought IL scores of letters containing
contributions, and all day a stream OF
people came into The Times Office 10
contribute their mite.
Little Rosetta Elizabeth Burrows,
aged two years. the youngest contribu-
tor to the fund, was brought into The
Times office today by her mother, and
lisping mat she wanted TO help the sick
man and the poor lady with the baby.
passed over a dollar.
Boy Sends Money
In the big. struggling. handwriting of
q boy Of seven years, little Ralph Con
raids, sent IN letter ii which he says:
Dear Washington Times:
My mother has been telling me about
the poor sick man who has 10 live IN
a tent all alone by himself, and L am
very sorry for him and for his little
boy. so send YOU 81 out OF my bank 10
help him. God bless him, and make
him we'll"
Eight-year-old Rosie Ellis, Of Hurst
place, Conduit road. started out Tues
day 10 collect money for the fund She
thought she ought 10 prepare a list,
and this Is the way she heaC ed IL.
Rosie Ellis would like TO take up a
collection for John Early. the sick man
VINO has the leper."
With this sheet. she spent two days
visiting her friends and neighbOrs, and
this morning proudly presented her list
of contributors and S3.15 at the receiv-
ing window OF The Times counting
room.
Physicians View.
a prominent physician Of Washington.
with a view TO allaying the fears OF a
more or less excited public regarding
The dangers Of leprous infection. called
attention today 70 an article appearing
in a recent issue OF the Journal of the
American Medical Association.
Discussing it he said:
There is no necessity for the alarm
felt In many quarters. That such un-
easiness exists know, from my own
personal observation. 1t is further
evidenced by the fact that / have Just
received letters from relatives In Ohio,
who intended visiting my family, but
who now advise that Inasmuch as
W ashington is Ieper-ridden we dare not
come
People seem TO have a superstitious
fear OF the ancient disease, a fear hand
ed down through the ages which all rhe
reinsurance OF modern scientists cannot
quiet. The disease, in reality is NOT
80 courageous as smallpox or diphtheria, !
and / do not believe has ever been con-
traeted except through prolonged con
tact
Fears Groundless.
Il think the people should be i'm /
pressed that their fears are ground less, /
IN the main, and, although the Ioath- /
someness Of the disease Is horrible TO /
contemplate, l do not believe that
Early's contact with any Washington /
ian before he was isolated was such
as 10 contaminate that person. II would /
not surprise me If his wife and babv
failed 10 contract the disease. regard /
less OF the fact that they were with the
unfortunate man until a few weeks
ago"
An extract from the article in the
american Medical Association Journal. |
The ancient history Of Ieprosv should
not be the basis OF our present-dav /.
coi-uutl regarding H. There is now J
40 reason Tor supeTsUtiOuS dread of the /
leperl and certainly no occasion for /
treating him with brutality
Not Contagious.
II Is apropOs that we have at hand
some observations OF Dr. Z. ). Brad /
dock. some time chief medical inspector 4
10 the Siamese government. Dr. Brad /
dock has had abundant opportunity 10 /
study lepTosy- He was never able to 1
get single history Of any one having /
acquired leprosy directly from another; /
he found that many persons were as
sOciated with lepers Tor long periods /
without contracting the disease. In the
Far East there is very little fear OF /
lepers, who are not segregated. The /
wisest and quite adequate prcphylaxis \
Is no doubt pracused in Norway. as de /
sCribed by Ricketts,.
'Origipally all lepeTs were confined in
institutions; now only INDECENT ones and
those who can not be suitably cared Tor Z
at home are required TO enter an asy-l D
lum, where they live under the best /
possible conditions. The others may re- j
main at home, with the understanding (
that they sleep alone and If possible
have separate rooms, that their clOtn-
ing, linen ana eating utensils be used /
by no one else, that proper precautions /
be taken IN the washing of their /