The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-01-14
LEPROSY IN AIKEN.
Aged Lady Has Dread Disease and
People Are Stirred.

People Are Stirred.
Discovered to be afflicted with
leprosy, Miss Mary v. Kirke, an aged
lady of Aiken, is to be removed from
her home in the center of the town,
to a small house built three miles
from Aiken by the town authorities.
The case has wrought up the citizens
of Aiken to a high degree and for
several days armed guards nave been
on duty around the house to prevent
the. possibility of contagion.
On this point the people of Aiken
are at variance with the physicians
attending the case, who contend that
the malady is Anaesthetic Leprosy
and is not contagious. The doctors
have brought to strengthen their case
a letter from the chairman Of the
board of health of South Carolina,
saving that Anaesthetic Leprosy is
not contagious. Notwithstanding this
the people of Aiken are determined
to take no chances and are guarding
the Kirke residence, and have al
ready begun building the house OF
detention in an isolated spot away
from the town to which Mrs. kirke
will be carried. Augusta physicians
B who have been approached by repre-
sentatiyes of the Herald side with the
people who have taken these preCau-
tionary measures, and give 1t as their
opinion that this form of leprosy IS
contagious.
The following letter is submitted by
the Aiken physicians, who have had
the case in charge, to sustain their
position. The letter is directed to
DIR. Kirke, nephew of the stricken
lady, and is signed by Robert Will
kins, Jr., Chairman of the State
Board of Health of South Carolina:
ss .sIn reply to your inquiry in regard
10 the contagiousness of Anaesthetlc
sLeprosy, I have no hesitancy in say
Ing that patient with this disease Is
In no ways dangerous to the COM
munity in which he or she may re-
side"
8 Mrs. Kirke was at one time an
Episcopal missionary to South Ameri-
sca. She came to Aiken number of
years ago and buying a residence
here took up her abode and has not
moved since.
For three years Mrs. Kirke has
been blind. Common report has II
that at the time she became so af-
ficted she gave up hope that her NAL
ady was other than leprosy, and
openly announced that she had that
disease. Since then she lived alone
attached to her presence of a Mrs.
Edmondson, who became attached to
her and who remains in the guarded
house with the stricken lady in the
capacity of nurse. For the last sew
seral years Mrs Kirke has been at
Hended by Dr. Croft, local physl-
:eian,. who says the lady has leprosy.
The evidences of some disease
have become more manifest during
The last several years. Since her
blindness, Mrs. Kirke has lost the
fingers on one hand and one on the
other. Her limbs below the knees
are without feeling, even boiling wa
Ter making no sensation which is
spereeptible to her. 1t is said to be
Mrs. Kirke's belief that her limbs
viii drop of below the knees as her
fingers have done. For several years
she has made her appearance on the
streets, being led by Mrs. Edmond
son. with her hands encased in band
ages or gloves.
Neighbors who had for long time
been curious about the lady's condi-
zion. have recently begun to make
more searching inquiries which cul-
minated few days ago IN a report
sof the matter. to tRe State board or
health. The Aiken authorities de-
cided to place the guards around the
house simultaneously with the report
and the guards have remained there
.since
Mrs. Kirke's residence is on the
main street and within two blocks
sof the business portion of the city.
The house is large two story build
ing situated on the main street. IL
Is painted white with green trim
sminss and it is surrounded by an
evergreen hedge. The house is about
fifteen feet from the street and mas
small porches on each side or: the
house. The house is in the middle
OF the lot, which is we'll shaded and
neatly kept.
Augusta physicians commenting on
the peculiarity of the disease as
shown by Mrs. Kirke's having no feel
ing in the parts affected, and upon
the knowledge of physicians that the
disease is uncurable, give an in
stance celebrated in medical lore.
The case was one where a well
known physician discovered he had
the malady by accidentally touching
q hot lamp and finding he did not
feel the heat.
# Mrs. Kirke is known as most es-
Unable lady, and the fears of the
people of Aiken are mixed with deep
feelings of regret that she is so az
fiicted. Mrs. Kirke is 60 years old.
Augusta Herald.
Reprimanded by Judge.