The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-26
NO LEPROSY IN HAIR.
Dry Goods Economist Announces Re-
suit of Investigation.
(F'rom the Dry Goods Economist


Considerable injury is likely to be
done to the sale of hair goods as the re-
suit of a report which is now receiving
wide publicity through the daily press.
The statement in question, which os-
tenSibly emanateS from Detroit, Mich,
is to the effect that a young women
employed in a hair store in that city
has contracted leprosy from the hand
ling of imported human hair.
The Economist has the best authority
for stating that there is no truth III
this assertion which, as stated. APP
pears to be going the rounds of the
press, the alleged dispatch from Detroit
having been copied and printed in the
daily papers of various other cities.
1t is quite probable that the publica-
ton of the statement has been effected
for selfish purposes, although in some
cases the name of DIR. Andrew p. Bid
die, reputable Detroit specialist, is
used, probably without authority, in
the statement.
What Skilled Physicians Say.
An Economist representative this
week interviewed some of the leading
specialists of the country in leprosy
| and skin diseases, and the following
| statements can be absolutely relied
| upon.
| In the first place, scientists have
never been able to ascertain-or, at
least, they do not agree upon-the man
/ ner in which leprosy is contracted
| That it is contagious disease is adj
mitted, but specialists of repute are
| unanimous in stating that the leprosy
! infection can be transmitted only by
| close and frequent personal association,
! and that, so far as is known, leprosy
has never been conveyed by inanimate
| objects of any kind.
| Here, in detail. is what these authori-
| ties had to say on the subject:
Out of the Question.
| nr R1,Il-I 0f M
son avenue. branded the story as too
| absurd to call for the slightest con-
sideration. DR. Buckley has handled and
| studied leprosy cases in this country,
| the Philippine Islands and elsewhere
for the last 40 years, and now has I'M
| der his charge a leper patient at the
| New York Skin and Cancer hospital
| Being a recognized authority on this
| disease, he has from time to time given
the medical profession valuable data
, relating to it.
This experienced physician stated pos
| itively that the disease is not contract
| ed by contact with objects, even though
| they came from sources which 1eproSy
| prevails, and that it would, therefore,
! be an inpoSSibility for a Person hand
ling hair, even though it came from the
head of a leper. to become infected
| thereby.
So certain of his ground in this, con-
| nection is Dr. Buckley that he has re-
fiicted with the disease. without taking
| the precautions usually employed in
connection with contagious diseases.
Not Worthy of Consideration.
DR.. George Henry Fox, of GIG Madi-
son avenue. another leading authority
on leprosy and the author of some val
| liable works On the subject, laughed
ing infected by this disease in the man
ner reported. 1.-The idea" said DIR. Fox,
lis so extremely ridiculous as to be IN
worthy of a seconds thought
He added that the fear of leprosy
among Americans is a source of in
finitely more danger than is the dis
ease itself.
Dr.. John A. Fordyce, of so West
Fortieth street, an eminent specialist on
skin diseases, while admitting that the
actual source or vehicle through which
leprosy is conveyed has not yet been
determined. secuted the probability 81
infection in the manner suggested by
the Detroit dispatch
No Infection From Hair.
DR.. Andrew Linn Nelden, of 500 Fifth
avenue. a pioneer in the work of facia
surgery and a dermatologist of consid-
cradle note, said that throughout his
many years experience he had never
known of a single case of scalp trouble
or skin disease Of any kind which he
could regard as traceable to the wear
ing or handling of false hair. DR.
Nelden further stated that. in his opin.
ion, based on actual experience, com
bined with the fact that vast army o.
women have for ages safely resorted u
the use of false hair, the possibility
| of infection from such a source was in
finitely remote.
even were there a possibility of in.
lection by such means" said DIR. Mel
den, though I am not definitely &C
!, quainted with the various treatments u
which hair is subjected before being
shipped to this country, feel sure tina;