The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-07-13
NO ROOM FOR LEPERs.

NO ROOM FOR LEPERS.
Salt Lakes leper, who has been at
large for several days. has been
rounded up. and is not isolated in a
tent I'm Emigration canyon. It is said
that he has not been in hiding. al
though the health authorities have
been searching for him for several
days. Just what disposition will be
made OF Kokas is not known. although
an effort will be made to deport him,
The average citizen knows very
little about leprosy. We read about
lepers being cleansed by the Master.
and the impression received from the
language OF the New Testament was
that the disease was incurable from a
medical point OF view and that a mira
Gle was necessary.
OF late years the people Of Great
Britain and the United States have
had some experience with leprosy.
numerous cases having been dIscov-
cred in both countries. but natives are
rarely afflicted in either.
A case which has recently come TO
light In the East End Of London has
caused the same kind Of a discussion
that has arisen in salt Lake over the
case Of John Kokas. the popcorn and
fruit peddler. II has developed there
are at least one hundred and fifty
cases Of leprosy in the great metropo-
lis and other parts OF the tight little
isle.
Sir Jonathan Hutchinson, one of the
most noted specialists of the age. the
author Of Fish Eating and Leprosy."
says that the persons afflicted by the
awful disease always conceal the ma
ture of their complaint, and are as
sisted by the doctors on account OF the
popular prejudice
In view OF the excitement caused
by the case OF KolSas The Herald-Re-
publican prints Sir Jonathan's Views
on the subject;
''The disease almost always occurs
in people who have been abroad
and have lived in what are
known as leper districts. These
areas are not by any means al
ways in the tropics. No mod
ern case Of indigenous leprOsy
is known IN this country. al
though they turn up now and
then. curiOusly enough, in Ire
/ land. ] have never. myself. seen
| such a case. They occur oftener
in Roman Catholic countries
than elsewhere because OF the
| larger consumption Of fish.
which ~ e be not perfectly fresh
or thoroughly cured IS the cause
Of the ai1ment the world over.
| "Lepers are imported from all over
Il Garth have case under
| my care now. The patient Is
| nearly 30 years OF age. and /
have had him since he was 10
or L. He went 70 school in
London and is now at work in
an office. He has quite recov-
cred.
coveries. II the patient be re-
moved TO good environment he
very often recovers; IN TACT.
usually. My hypothesis is that
tt IS n species Of tuberculosis.
/ and there are very many recov-
cries from that. Leprosy must
have practically died out in
/ England. because since the SIX
teenth century there has been
| less and less fish-eatiuR Of any
] kind. n IS not contagious
/ have sat In ieper houses and
talked with lepers. but have
| never taken the disease. and I'm
| not one OF our English cases
have we ever had any contagion.
| infectious. but there Is no proof
OF that II cannot be inoculated.
For myself. 7 have never taken
any precautions against II.
"We have a national leprosy funo
IN England. founded by the late
| King Edward. bat. I am very
sorry 20 say. Il was abolished foI
apparent lack OF utility. Yet
there was plenty OF work to DC
| done From Norway to the
tropics. In fact all over the world
chance OF a cure. because II de-
ncnds on n liberal diet and com
forts But the fund was not
effective anyway. II was pro-
posed TO establish a ieper settle
1 meut here. but the fear OF at
tracing the disease from all over
the world killed the project
"a big step forward would be 10
abolish the salt tax In India be-
cause on the free use Of salt IN
/ fish curing depends the freedom
Of the fish eater from danger Of
leprosy. In the east the preva-
lence Of the aiirnent Is traceable
in large measure to the taxa
/ ton Of salt and the consequent
insufficient curing Of fish for the
consumption OF the millions OF
the orient"
The theory that those who confin'
themselves TO fresh fish as food arr
subject 20 leprosy IL not particular!
new and r. borne out by the fact tina
several lepers from the fish-eatinl
centers Of Norway. have been taken Il
custody In the United States and az
forwards deportcd.
There is a great difference Of opin