Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-25

known Iepers. Leprosy seems to have
had its greatest spread in Hawaii in
1863. and the Molokai colony was
established in 1866: In the 20 years
from 1866 to 1895, total OF 1858 casas
were sent to Mclokai Now the d.
sease Is decreasing there.
One of these pamphlets contains the
leper law OF the Territory OF Hawaii
approved in April. 1909. and appro
priatIng $4,000 for a laper hospital on
che island OF Oahu Thus it appears
that Hawaii is doing its part m this
great work. r..
One pampnIeI, issued by this same
bureau, deals with leprosy IN the Uni.
ted States Of America. showing 139
known cases reported through the
health authorities-50 in Louisiana, 20
in Florida, 30 in California, Is in Min
nesota, II in Texas, in Massachu-
sets, and so on.
/ notice the state OF Washington is
credited with one case at that date.
Mr. Chairman, the disease has in
creased in the United States since
then, AS the reports Of the Surgeon
General show.
On this subject think il may be of
interes. to the House to know that
the great danger and fear Of leprosy,
the reason why there has been such a
determination on the part Of various
localities net to permit q lepfosarfum
to be established, is on account Of the
sIowness with, which this disease
seems. to take hold.
Eeprosy takes a long time to de-
veIop, and there are cases Son record
where 40 years have elapsed before
the disease manifested itself, and IN
stances Of where from Is to Is years
have passed by before the disease be-
trayed itself are frequently met with
As II is a bacillar disease, 1t may be
by physical contact.
This renders it extremely dangerous
to community for a leper to be- at
large, while its insidious character and
The length of time 1t takes to develop
makes it exceedingly difficult of dis
covery until It reaches an advanced
stage. - II. 49, ~,
I These reports tell OF the case Of a
man named Keana, a condemned MUIR
lerer, who was given hts life on con-
lition that he be inoenIated with the
baccilIi of Iepresy.. DR.. Edward Arm.
ing performed the incubation Septem-
Der 80. 1884, and Il month afterwards
The baccilIi were still In me wound
without any symptoms OF the disease
ieveloping, and three years elapsed
before the leprosy showed itself.
One bulletin, Mo- OF the Public
Health Bulletins, discusses flies and
mosquitoes with relation TO 1eprosy,
md sthe author comes to the following
s.; 3es3ssss
Certain data; taken together with the
wetlsknomn habits of certain of these
lies, establish the truth Of the follow
ne Statements, 50
First. That given "a bacilli-dis-
charging leprous Ulcer land practically
III leprous ulcers due to the break
ng down of a leprous nodule do dis
.harge baccillD, unprotected from the
stacks of flies, these insects will con-
ley the; bacillus of leprosy to the skin
If nearby healthy persons j
Second. That such insects will con
animate the foodstuffs or such per:
IONS with these organism. .'-
Third. That thee insects deposit
heir feces on every conceivable sur
ace, and such feces, becoming dry
md pulverized, will in the form of
dust" convey the baciih to the nasal |
cucosa of nearby persons.
That given such an unprotected ul-s
er. and the usual number of flies, this
of the skin and mucosa
4 nearby healthy persons will not be
n unusual event. but will occur again /.
nd again: through an indefinite length 1