The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-12-16
PEOPLE NEED NOT SHUN
HOME OF LFPFR SUSPECT
Physicians Assert that No Danger
Is Courted in Being Near
Victim
MAY NOT HAVE The DISEASE

Since case of suspected leprosy,
that OF Maurelius Jensen of Centennial
Heights, has been reported to the state
health authorities, and the story given
wide publicity in outside papers, the
lie of the suspected victim has been
far from pleasant. Friends of years
standing have Stunned his home, and
others less sympathetic have been even
less courteous. This treatment. in the
opinion of well known Calumet physi-
clans, is needless and inhuman.
An instance OF the feeling which has
arisen against him is found in the fact
that the butcher recently drove UP to
the rear door OF his home, and throw
ing the account book inside, warned
the family not to enter the market
again.. Feeling has been so marked
that ii has been impossible for Mr..
Jensen to follow his trade. that of
railroad carpenter. and earn a livell-
hood for himself and family The chill
6ren have been sent home from school
and other signs of hostility have been
manifested.
Not Certain of Disease.
Jensen has been a resident of Calu-
met for five years. having come to this
city from Alaska, where he was en-
rloyed by the government as a rein
deer herder. He is supposed to have
contracted the disease, now said to be
A..
physicians OF Calumet are far from
certain as to the diagnosis. DIR. III. III.
Rounavaara, who has cared for the
patient for two years and DR.. w. ].
Clark, C. w. Warrington and others
feel that the nature Of the disease has
not yet been clearly established Df
Warthin of Lansing. who came to Cal.
umet to examine the patient. likewise
has doubts about the nature of the
disease, and in a recent interview stat.
ed that he is not yet sure.
Is Not Contagious.
According to Dr. Rounavaara, the
theory that leprosy is contagious has
been exploded for many years. IL Is
claimed that there is absolutely no
danger of contracting the disease T,
through merely meeting with a vic
tim and it Is even asserted by many |
authorities that the disease |
Is not infectious. This question Is, |
however. disputed. Physicians assert
that the community need fear the dis
ease in no way, as there Is absolutely |
10 danger of 1t injecting the commu-
nity The old biblical horror of the
disease Is said not to be grounded on |
fact.
tuberculosis is Worse.
Those who have made a study of the
disease freely assert that 1t Is not
nearly as dangerous as consumption.
or a number of other similar diseases.
Scarlet fever. smallpox. diphtheria
and measles are more dangerous by far
than leprosy. It is also said that the
disease never affects the hands, and
as all other parts of the body are co =
cred, there could be no possible dan
ger of contagion for his fellow work.
men. or any one who comes in contact
with him.
The patient has no desire to endan-
ger any OF his friends or even his fam
Ily. II he has leprosy. and would be
perfectly willing to be isolated. He |
takes every possible precaution against
the spreading of the disease to be IN
the safe side. He communes very IT.
lie with his family, and Is almost as
ISOLATED in his home. as II Is possible
% make him anywhere. Osler says
should be compulsory in
,Il cases except where the friends
show that they have ample provision
in their homes for the complete iso-
ation and proper care Of the patient"
This Is said to be the case In the Jen-
,en home. Even without such precau-
ions there Is no danger. Zambaco an
,ther authority gives an illustration
10 show that the disease Is non-com-
nuaicable. "A handsome young laiy
n good family married a leper., AMI
wed with him eight years. Partly