The National tribune., 1908-09-03

Gus. for the population, in early re-
corded days, more numerous than now,
really, at least we do not often hear OF
ieprosy in civilized communities, but
Washington has case. 1t is imported.
but it is here, and it has to be cared
for The man who is staring awful life
or sudden death in the face is John r.
Early, born in Yancy County, N. c. He
enlisted from there in the Cuban war,
and later spent two years in the Philip
pines.s Since then he has been pretty
much over the United States as sol
dier and in business Had intermittent
fever in Cuba. and has had that or
worse ever since He has a wife and
year old boy. He came to Washington
to see about his pension. lie visited
the Pension Office, and was about the
town quite a good DEAL and was finally
taken ill in boarding house here A
doctor was called, and as soon as he
saw Early pronounced him an incur
able leper Later the experts in that
disease who are connected with the
Government examined Early carefRily
and clincffed the awful truth. Thc
young man has gained the esteem OF
everybody by his Christian fortitude-
What shall be done with him2 OF
course, it was necessary for the man
to be put apart from everybody and
everything. and a tent was put up on
a vacant lot in the edge of the city, fixed
as comfortably as might be by his ply
sician. and there he is now Isolated
He says that he can only feel grateful
for all the kindnesSes that have been
shown him by everybody. He remem-
bers the inhuman treatment of the Sy-
rian leper which the City of Brotheriy
Love showed into an empty freight car,
and sent scurrying round the country,
no city being willing to receive him,
and finally the poor devil died of want
and exposure. Vivisection is Sunday
school game compared with the way the
cities and their Mayors treated the
Syrian. Well, Early has everything
tfa. he wants, and the hearts of the
people have been wonderfully stirred by
his awful condition, but the fact re-
mains that the man must be sent to
shelter somewhere.
Where?
There is "a leper colony down in Lou
fsianaa somewhere, but that is said to be
the only one in the United States. We
do not cross bridges Till we get to them
Never having had leper to deal with
before-that is, the United States Gov
ernment as Government has never
had TO deal with lepers in this country
no provision has been made for their
care. Lepers must be separated from
all other people. Authorities of leprosy
are divided as to its Catching quail
ties Many authorities say that it is
contagious, and others say that one
may live with lepers for a lifetime and
never develop the disease. The fact re-
mains that ne healthy human being
can look with anything but horror on
the thought of coming in contact with
a leper. In time the leper becomes
loathsorne object to look upon, and the
4: Co., l1ni.. hi ind of
rot of human flesh, SO that the extremi-
ties. usually begin to drop off one after
the other in the advanced stages, that
IN these Oriental countries where II is
more common ieper must not uncover
any part of his person, face, hands or
feet in the presence Of unaffected peo-
pie. And when he sees them coming
>he must move to as great distance as
9 Possible so as 10 avoid meeting the
healthy person.
No one knows what causes leprosy.
a Government expert ventured the fol-
lowing information on leprosy, its cause
and history:
sLeprosy is defined by good authority
as a chronic infectious disease caused
by the bacillus leprae, characterized by
the presence of tubercular nodules in
the skin and mucous membrane ttuber-
cular leprosy), or by changes in the
nerves (anesthetic leprosy)-"
In the early stages these are separate,
but later are combined.
This dread t1isease appears to have
prevailed in Egypt long before the
Christian era It Is referred to by He
brew writer's (see Leviticus). At an
early period 1t was also kr5wn in China
and India. Ancient Greek and Roman
physicians were familiar with it, and it
is thought TO have existed in America
prior to the arriva! of Columbus.
In the Middle Ages it is thought that
1000 asyIums for lepers existed in Eu-
rope.
Leprosy is prevalent in Iceland. Nor
way, and Sweden, Russia (parts), and
Spain and Portugal. Here in the Unit
ed States there appear to be three points
where it has been known for over 100
years Louisiana has 500 lepers; Cali
fornia, 25; Minnesota, $50. and there
are few isolated cases in various 9th
er States. Practically all were and are
immigrants.
There is a considerable number of
eases in parts of-Canada, and il is fire.
euentiy seen in the West India Islands,
Mexico and the South American States.
In British India there are 190. 600 lepers
at least. In China the number cannot
be estimated. In South Africa it is on
she increase. It also prevails at places
in Australia and New Zealand.
Practically all medical authorities
concede that the bacillus leprae, dis
covered by Hansen, of Bergen. In 1871,
Is the cause of this dread disease.
While il seems probable that leprosy
may be contracted by accidental inocu-
lation, the evidence is not conclusive OF
satisfactory. One experimental ease of
direct innoculation was tried A con-
vict in Hawaii was innoculated in 1854.
In 1887 he had the disease in clear
type, and died six years later of II
II is thought that the disease is not
hereditary, but proof is lacking.
The bacilli are given off from the
open sores and saliva, nasal and posi-
bly other secretions and excretions
These bacilli, which are numerous IN
and on everything near lepers. proceed
10 enter the bodies of nonlepers in many
ways-thru the mucous membrane and
skin-oftenest probably by attacking
the interior of the nose. 1t is probable
that ii can be easily carried by clothing
and the high percentage of washwofnen
victims would tend to prove this.
People of all ages, all races, and oi
both sexes are attacked. but it is reason
able to believe that close contact or as
sociation is usually necessary 10 produce
infection, and that 1t is not so actiyeIy
contagious as many of our more com.
mon diseases.
The appearance of the patient in AZ
advanced case is often most shocking
and loathsone.
There should be no trouble in arriy.
ing at correct diagnosis. as the synp.