The Washington herald., 1909-05-25

John Early is a leper, according
to statements made last night By
DR.. Edward Ehlers, director OF the
Royal Frederick Hospital, at Co
penhagen. Denmark.
Dr.. Ehlers yesterday afternoon
made a thorough examination OF
the former soldier, who for months
has been kept a prisoner by the Dis
trict health authorities.
It was the second investigation
into the case. DR.. L. Morgan Bulk
ley, a New York specialist, made
an examination Of Early some time
ago, and IS alleged to have asserted
that the patient was not afflicted
with leprosy- The health authorities
Of Washington. however, It IS IN
derstCod, viii accept the finding Of
Dr. Ehlers as final.
The specialist goes further. He
declares Early has a strong hys-
terical tendency. which may have
affected his mind. On this point
he IS not positive.
VIII Make Visit To-day.
While convinced that Earlv IS d
IePer, Dr.. Ehlers announced he
would visit the unfortunate man
early this morning and make a sec
Ond examination, at the same time
taking more cultures for observa-
uon. He said the cultures taken
yesterday were heated. and. from a
meteorological standpoint, could not
be relied upon TO a certainty as CIV
ing the true form Of the bacilli.
Mrs. Early, wife OF the leper,
who for months has been, with their
children, his only companion. com
municating with him through a
wire netting, was almost overcome
with grief and dependency when
she was told by the celebrated ply
sician that her husband was af1lict-
ed with the dread disease.
Hopes BOIstered ID.
she was silent for several seconds: only
the nervous twitching OF the muscles OF
her face and the cIenching and unclench-
Ing Of the long. white fingers showed the
strain Her hopes boIstered Up for
months by her husbands beliefs. and
lately strengthened by the opinion OF Dr.
l. Morgan Bulkley. the New York spe-
cialist, were IN an instant dashed TO fraE-
ments
Recovering before the physicians left
the house, Mrs Early became defiant. and
refused to credit the theories OF the nan
upon whom she relied 10 pronounce her
husband without Ieprosy.
Dr. EhleTs was accompanied by Mrs
Ehlers, and while her husband examined
the lcper Mrs. Ehlers, with a woman's
quick sympathy. comforted and cheered
the leper's vile.
Dr.. EhIers started for the little brick
house or the bank OF the Eastern Branch
Of the Potomac about ) o'clock yesterday
afternoon. He was accompanied by DR..
" c. Woodward, District health officer.
Dr. ] J kinyCUn. District bacteriOIogis+.
Dr. ". c. Fowler, health officer in charge
O.. contagious diseases: Dr ". [. Rob
bins Of Washington, nerve specialist.
BENJAMIN :. Minor. counsel for Early.
and several newspaper men.
No Part in Examination.
The District officials took 10 part in
the examination. expressing themselves as
certain that Early was a Ieper- DR.. Rob
Sins accompanied the party because Ct q
rumor that Early was suffering from 4
nervous affection OF the skin. Being 2
nerve specialist. Dr. Robbins, 20 satisfy
scientific interest. was made one Of the
party.
The trip 10 the seqUestered house was
made in q large automobile. and the ex-
animation lasted about half an hour.
Early was examined. physically and oraI-
II. and cultures were taken from the
rashes on his forehead and neck
put through a system OF cleansing in
the laboratory, the cultures were ana
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