The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-15
What the Government Is Dome

, w" VI ~l'N ill- lHt III 10 pibuuNt H'N
tnd valuable varieties which are more
profitable In Welding and which In
many cases are more disease-resistine
than the kinds OF cereals formerly
grown In these localities. These new
varieties are distributed as rapidly as
possible i'm the regions Immediately
surrounding the experimental farms.
aud IL is expected within a few years
To extend very materially the area
over which they are cultivated This
kind OF work Of the government with
vegetable and fruit crops as we'll as
grain Yields quicker returns than al
most any other line of experiments, al
though the general public knows little
about how IL is accomplished until
the estimated values OF the introduce
ed immigrant crops are announced
While medical men aud public
health authorities of the whole civil
lied world are
leper Treatment working TO discov-
IN China. or a cure for lep-
rosy. reports have
come 10 this country OF novel meth
Cd adopted in the new Chinese repub-
! lie in dealing with unfortunate people
afflicted with this dread disease
When China became a republic there
were many evidences to indicate thai
its people had stepped out OF the ways
OF darkness i'm which they lived and
had set ont TO become as enlightened
as the remainder OF the civilized
world
Officers Of the United States public
| health service, however are astound-
ed at the unusual methods which Off
GERS OF the eastern republic have
adopted in dealing with lepers The
government health experts have just
read a report of Or ] j Matignon,
/ formerly physician 10 the French lega-
! ton ar Peking, which seems 10 ind-
cate that young China has gone hack
! 10 the methods OF Philip dhe Fair Of
! France, VINO is said 10 have discov.
cred most effectual way Of stamping
/ ont leprosy in his realm lie is said
! 10 have burned 1000 alleged suffer
ers from the disease.
IN reporting the new methods OF
| dealing with the leper question as
| adopted in one of the provinces OF
I the new Chinese republic, Or. Matig.
non saws that in the town OF Nan
Ming. capital Of Konsang 81, where a
small colony OF lepers lived. IL was
/ proposed by missionaries TO build a
refuge for them. Many well-to.do in
habitan's promised their support, and
the governor NJ the province seemed
anxious TO approve the scheme. Young
( China resented the interference Of for.
eigners in a matter of social hygiene.
however, and did it's utmost to stir
public opinion against the lepers.
whom II described 'as outcasts. re-
jected by heaven. whom il would he
impious 70 help"
A general massacre in the interest
OF public health was openly discuss
ed At daybreak OF December IA.
P, 1912, the lepcr village was surrounded
by more than 100 soldiers and. like
sheep driven 70 a slaughter house. the
lepers we're forced toward a pit which
had been dug for them on the army's
maneuvering ground Al tho bottom
OF the pit was a pile OF heavy wood.
The lepers were forced 70 climb one
by one down into the pit by means
OF ladder The women carried their
children in their arms. The word OF
command was given by the captain 10
kill and the soldiers fred point-blank
~ the victims Oil was then poured
lUtO the pr ana name OF HTe IN
nounced young China's solution OF one
Of IFS public health problems The
governor OF the province later made
a public statement in which he declar-
ed himself particularly we'll pleased
with the sanitary achievement.
Officers of the United states public
health service say that they are as
founded that such a drastic and inhu-
man measure could he adopted in this
day and age in dealing with unfor-
tunates who had been thrown into the
Chinese ieper colony. They say they
know OF no case in recent years which
compares with IL in point of cruelty.
The study and care OF lepers and
the search for possible cure for the
dread disease is international in
scope and public health authorities
In this country find il almost impos-
sible TO credit the report OF the shoot
ING and burning Of the MEMBERS Of
the Chinese leper colony. The medi-
cal men Of the United States. as well
as those Of other countries. will await
with interest the receipt Of an official
statement on the massacre, which will
perhaps he issued as soon as the
French physicians report has been
brought TO the attention OF the Off
Gals Of the new republic.