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

known lepers. Leprosy seems to have
had it's greatest spread in Hawaii in
1863, and the Molokai colony was
established in 1866. In the 40 years
from 1866 to 1905, total Of 1858 cas1a
were sent to Mclekai Now the di
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 leper hospital on
the island OF Oahu. Thus it appears
that Hawaii is doing its part IN this
great work.
One pampnlet. issued by this same
bureau, deals with leprosy in the Uni
ted States of America, showing 1S9
known cases reported through the
health authorities-50 in Louisiana, 90
in Florida, 20 in California, is in Min
nesota, IL 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 CT the Surgeon
General show.
On this subject think It may be of
interest to the House to know that
the great danger and fear of leprosy,
the reason why there has been such
determination on the part Of various
localities not to permit leprosarium
to be established, is on account of the
slowness with which this disease
seems to take hold.
Leprosy takes long time to de-
velop, and there are cases on record
where 30 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 It is q bacillaf disease, it may be
communicated by physical contact.
This renders it extremely dangerous
to a community for lepeF TO be at
large, while fits insidious character and
the length of time 1t takes to develop
makes 1t exceedingly difficult of dis
coyery until 1t reaches an advanced
stage. -, 49,.
These reports tell Of the case of
man named Keanu, a condemned muir.
derer, who was given his life on con.
dition that he be inoculated with the
baccilh of leprosy. DR.. Edward Arm.
ing performed the incubation Septefi-
Der 30, 1884, and IA month afterwards
the baccilli were still In me wound
without any symptoms of the disease
developing, and three years elapsed
before the leprosy showed itself
One bulletin, No. 80 of the Public
Health Bulletins, discusses flies and
with relation to leprosy,
and the author comes to the following
conclusions: ..v
Certain data, taken together with the
well-known habits of certain of these
flies, establish the truth of the follow
ing statements: .r ~.
First. : That given a bacilli-dis.
charging leprous ulcer (and practically
all leprous ulcers due to the break
ing down of a leprous nodule do dis
charge baccilli@, unprotected from the
attacks of flies. these insects will con-
yey the bacillus of leprosy to the skin
Of nearby healthy persons,
Second. That such insects will con-
taminate the foodstuffs Of such per-
sons with these organism. vi. !
Third. That thee insects deposit
their feces on every conceivable sur
face, and such feces, becoming dry
and pulverized, will in the form of
dust" convey the baeiIli to the nasal
of nearby persons: .. > /
That given such an unprotected III ;
Ger, and the usual number of flies, this
of the skin and mucosa
Of nearby healthy persons will not be
an unusual event. but will occur again
and again, through an indefinite length i