Evening star., 1909-05-26
REPORT FINAL
Health Department Satisfied
That Early Is a Leper.
BONDS TO BE TIGHTENED
But Hope Has Not Deserted the Ex-
lie of the Flats.
REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITIES
Danish Expert Gives Valuable Sug-
gestions to Mrs. Early Concerning
Treatment of Her Husband.
REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITIES

Final is the verdict of DR.. Edward
Ehlers. director of the Royal Frederick
Hospital in Copenhagen. in regard TO the
case of John r. Early. WashnSton's al
legged leper and the contrary report OF
DIR. L. Ducan Bulkley of New York, stand
ing alone. does not create sufficient
doubt to make necessary another ex-
animation of Mr. Early.
That is the view of the health depart
ment Of the District of Columbia ex-
pressed this morning by Health Officer
William C. Woodward. And Early will
ern branch, under stricter quarantine
than ever.
Health Officers Views.
DIR. Woodward pointed out this morn
ing that DR.. ]. ]. Ktnyoun, bacteriologist
of the local health department, former
employe of the marine hospital service.
delegate to an international leprosy con-
gress in which he sat alongside of DR..
Ehlers, and a man familiar by personal
observation with lepers in the far east,
found leprosy bacilli in blood and skin
taken from the body of Early when he
was first discovered in this city.
Physicians of the pension office exam
ined Early, he points out and had no
doubt that he was suffering from leprosy
Moreover, they backed their opinion by
recommending that he receive total
disability pension. Other physicians. too.
who have seen leprosy cases in countries
where it is more frequent, 1t is pointed
out saw Early .and declared that he was
suffering from leprosy. Then DR.. Ed
ward Ehlers recognized the world over
as a leprosy specialist, and. in fact. so
designated by DIR. L. Duncan Bulkley of
New York. examined Early. made bac-
teriological tests of blood and skin from
Early's body and unhesitatingly and un-
quali1edly pronounced Early leper.
DR.. Bulkley Left Alone.
Against all these opinions. declared
Health Officer Woodward. stands DR..
Bulkley Of New York. In the first place,
says Dr. Woodward. positive proof is bet
ter than negative proof. The fact that
DR.. Bulkley found no leprosy bacilli in
the samples of blood and skin takeA by
him from Early'S body cannot outweigh.
1t is declared, the positive fact that DR..
Kinyoun and DR.. Ehlers both did find lep-
rosy bacilli In samples taken from Early.
Health Officer Woodward also declared
that 1t will be necessary to make Early's s
quarantine more strict. In his expecta-
ton that he would be quickly released
Early has been lax in living up to some
of the quarantine rules. it is declared
and it will now be necessary to enforce
them. As Early still declares that he Is
not suffering from leprosy, 1t is regarded
as necessary that he should be made to
conform to proper rules to prevent the
spreading Of the disease which the health
officials believe he has.
He Won't Take Medicine.
During the discussion Of the case be-
tween Dr. Ehlers and Mrs. Early day be-
fore yesterday the question Of treatment
came up and the faithful wife received
some valuable suggestions from the noted
Danish expert regarding the care and
treatment of cases of leprosy. Early.
| however, has persisted in his refusal to
| take any medicine. and 1t Is not known
whether Mrs Early will put into effect
any of the suggestions made to her by
the physician.