Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-15
Advocates of Special Institu-
ton Use Washingtonian
as an Example.
VICTIM AMONG FIRST
TO URGE LEPROSARIUM
His Stand Is Brought Out at Hear
ing Before Senate Public
Health Committee.

John Early. Washington's famous
leper, was cited today as an iliustra-
ton of why a national leprosarium
should be established, and his ex-
periences in being bounded from one
place to another as an outcast from
society was referred to as showing
that such an institution Is most desir-
able, from the viewpoint Of those who
are afflicted with this loathsome disease
Two hearings before the Senate COM
mittee on public health and national
quarantine have attracted the attend
ance of the most noted federal and
state health authorities and quaran-
tine experts, as well as leaders in the
medical profession engaged in pr1-
waite practice. These hearings are on
bill introduced by Senator RansdeH OF
chairman of the committee'
asking Congress to appropriate $780,
900 for the establishment of such
federal institution.
John Early himself was one of the
first to advocate a national leprosarium
and is on record before the committee
as strongly in favor of the passage OF
the bill He made such a statement to
Senator Ransdell. DIR. W. c. Fowler,
head of the contagious disease serv-
ice of the District health office. and j.
NJ. Rauit, Senator Ransdelfs secretary,
who visited him in his pesthouse last
Sunday.
Argument of DR.. Dyer.
The principal testimony before the
morning hearing was given by DR.. 1sa-
dore Dyer, in charge of the leprosy
home at Indian Camp. La, and DR..
Frank Parker, in charge of the lepers'
home on the Penikese Island. Mass.
These are the only two leper homes in
the United States and are supported
by the state governments.
DR.. Martin F.. Engman of st. Louis
spoke as representative or 5O.0oe phy-
sicians deeply interested in this sub
ject.
Others who spoke were DR.. Henry M
Bracken. secretary of the state ooard
of health of Minnesota, and DR.: Howard
Fox of New York, recognized author
ity on skin diseases.
DR.. W. c. Rucker of the public health
service and DR.. George w. MCCOY, sur
geon general and director OF the "a
nous Philippine leper station at Molo-
kai, were waiting an opportunity 10
testify.
District health officials who are also
waiting to be heard are DR.. William Z.
woodward, District health ofncer: Or.
]. J. Kinyoun, District bacteriologist,
and DIR. William c. Fowler. who has
had intimate personal connection with
John Early during the entire time his
case has been vexing District officials
III all lneT6 are I"clSC "ithSSoSo W
be heard. representing the best au-
thorities on the subject in the united
States and the Philippines.
Many persons interested in this sub
ject, including dozen women, ATTENDED
the hearings, which lasted from 10
until 1890 this morning. and which
were resumed at 2:3O this afternoon.
1000 Lepers in United States.
DIR. Dyer estimated that there are 500
to 1000 lepers in the United States. He
said that the disease is spreading
across the continent from the Pacific
coast. He said he believed the estab-
lishment of a national leprosarium will
tend to decrease the spread Of the dis
ease and guarantee more humane treat
ment for the victims.
DIR. Fox stated that in one year in
New York city he personally examined
thirty persons afflicted with leprosy.
He estimated that there are at the
present time fifty to one hundred cases
in New York city. He said most of
these come into the country from
abroad. He said that it Is hard to de-
tect the disease until the outbreak &C.
ours. and that 1t has been known to lie
dormant or undecided for ten to TWEEN
ty-five years.
DR.. Bracken said that he has record
of eighty-two cases in Minnesota since
1890. and that some of these were per-
sons naive OF the state.
Cost to Massachusetts,.
DIR. Parker said it has cost Massa :
chusetts $2G5, 900 to date for her leper
home and that the present appropria-
ton is $4,000 year. They now have
eighteen patients. but could care for
more. In answer to inquiry from Sena-
tor Weeks he said that they have had
applications from victims outside the
state. but have not accepted any for
admission because it is not practical
under the state laws. He said that he
thought 1t quite practical for a national
leprosarium to be established to which
any state might send Its residents at
ficted with leprosy, paying the per capita
expense.
DR.. Engman Of st. Louis said that in the
last two years he had personal ex-
perience with fifteen lepers, and knew
Of other cases. He told of several at
f1icted men who had been driven from
one place to another as beasts, spread
ing the contagion. and argued that this
was the best possible reason for es-
tablfshing a national leprosarium.
Four reasons given by all the speak,
ers in Endorsement of the bill were
that 1t would relieve the danger of
contagion for the rest of the commu-
nifty. would assure more humane treat
ment for the ahiicted, would reduce the
cost of caring for them. and would
give n batter oDOortunity for nPonAr