Evening star., 1909-05-13
EARLY IS NOT A LEPER
Examination Made Sunday Un-
known to Authorities.
OPINION OF SPECIALIST
Report That Man in Confinement Is
Free of Disease. ,.

That John r. Early, who, the officials Of
the health department claim, is Ill Of lep-
rosy and who is In quarantine in q small
house near the Eastern branch, was re-
Gently examined by an eminent specialist
in the disease and declared to have no
SYMPTOMS OF the leprosy. became known
today.
The examination was made last Sunday
morning about IL o'clock, 1t is declared,
and was very thorough. At the conclu-
sion the specialist told Mrs. Early that he
found no symptoms Of the disease. but
that he desired to make some laboratory
tests before making formal report.
Mrs. Early Speaks.
In telling about the visit OF the special
list, by which Early and his wife hope that
he may be released from his solitary con-
fnement, Mrs. Early said today that she
did not care to reveal the identity OF the
specialist who made the examination.
She said that he has q wide reputation az
a leper specialist, has travelled all over this
country making examinations of suspects
and has seen hundreds of cases OF the
disease While refusing to say how she
learned of him, she said that she sent for
him through friends, and that he had an
swered her summons, and his diagnosis
has given both Early and his wife great
announcement.
The specialist, she said is, to make a
report on the results of his examinations.
and that Is being awaited with almost
l. TOO t. he ri onf
Views Of Health officer.
Health department officials said today
they knew nothing OF the visit of a spe-
cialist to the home Of Early. DR.. Wood
ward declared that he Is satisfied that
early fs q leper.
IL it should be found now, he declared,
that Early has recovered from the disease,
the house where he is confined will be
thoroughly fumigated. Early would still
be confined reasonable time, pending a
possible recurrence of the disease, he
said. and if at the end of that time the
meteorological tests showed that Early is
free of the disease he would be released
from confinement.
Early has been in quarantine for nearly
a year. He was first isolated August p
last
When first under quarantine. he took
medicine recommended to him by ply
sicians. but since last November, Mrs.
Early said today, he has not taken q
drop of medicine. His appearance is
greatly improved. Physicians of the
health department who have seen him
recently say there are no marks on
his face. He appears to have been
getting better ever since last fall.
Early Thinks He Is Well.
Early refuses to see newspaper report
ers now. and therefore no statement could
be obtained from him today as to the
examination by the specialist. He still
thinks, ii is learned that he Is not suffer
ing from ieprosy, and that he should not
be confined. From many sources he has
received advice as to how to cure the dis
ease with which it is claimed he is suffer
ing.
Mrs. Early says he has made two
trunks and a violin case. although he
had never done any work of that kind
before. He has planted little garden in
the rear of his home and works in it
every pleasant day.
One of the pathetic features of Early's
life Is his enforced separation from his
children. When the older one, now sew
eral years old. sees his father on the
other side of the fence, he stretches out
his hand and smiles.
Papa, a. kiss the child will murmur.
and Early will try bravely to smile back
bu. has 10 look aside to recover his
cal;uness.
The child born five months ago is very
healthy, says Mrs. Early.