The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-13
STATE BOARD URGES
U. S. lEPR0S0R|Un
OUTCOME OF HoPEwELL CASE
Blame For Admission Placed On
Government Immigration Author
ities and Government Should Pay
Blu.

At its regular semi-annual meet
/ ing here yesterday the State Board of
Health adopted resolutions calling
| upon the United States Government
to establish q hospital for the treat
ment of lepers, who. the local board
declares. should not be q charge on
the Etate and local government merely
because they happen to be diagnosed
In q given community.
Too action Of the board follows the
diagnosis In Richmond OF q case OF
leprosy In q Greek immigrant who
F., has been at work at Hopewell and
recently applied at local hospital
for treatment The leper. as an
at once isolated. and 10 now under
observation in q special ward OF the
Richmond Smallpox Hospital
In Its resolutions the State Board
of H. alth takes the ground that this
and similar cases OF leproey are not
contracted in this country, but are,
in every instance, found among i'm
countries where leprosy is more COM
mon. The board argues tha< no cases
would have to be cared for In Amer
lea if the immigration authorities
were able In every instance to dag
nose leprosy among immigrants and
to return to their native country those
who are suffering from 1t. Inasmuch
as the failure of the immigration au-
thortties to keep out tepers permits
som" of the victims of this loathsomc
disease to become charges On States
and cities that have no protection
from them. except such as Ia given by
the United States authorities. the
board believes that the Federal gov
eminent should establish a ieposorium
to which all cases found in the States
can be sent without delay.
The resolution of the board, after
reciting the general situation in
preamble. reads as follows:
Whereas, the State Board OF
Health of the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginie. has learned with regret that an
Immigrant ieper has entered this
State. has had his malady diagnosed
in Ri:hT4ond and is now in Isolation.
a charge OF the city:
And whereas the only protection
States of the Union have against the
immigration OF such diseased persons
Is that afforded by the Federal quar-
antlne and examination of in4ni-
grants.
And whereas the admission Of q
leper into the United States Is con-
trary to the immigration laws ana
Is only possible when the true condi-
tions OF the leper is not discovered
by the Federal medical officers of the
immigration stations.
And whereas the failure OF the i'm
migration authorities to diagnose
such cases places upon the State and
municipal government OF the Union
the expenses OF caring for lepers who
did rot contract the disease in this
country and are not properly charge
upo.i the States or the municipalities,
l. TS-szs H. re
facts may incline municipalities less
mindful OF the public health than the
city OF Richmond to permit the es-
cape OF such lepers. in order to avoid
the expense of caring for them.
And whereas this may result in the
migration Of lepers from one city 10
another. with the possibility OF
spreading the disease
Be il resolved by the State Board OF
Health OF the Commonwealth OF Vir-
ginia that IN the Judgment OF the
board the care of lepers admitted into
this country Through the carelessness
OF the isnrnigra zion authorities or their
inability TO make a correct diagnosis
of the early stages of ieprosy Is prop
erly charge on the Federal govern
ment and not on the governments Of
the states or the localities.
Resolved. second, that In the tudg-
ment Of the board the Federal gov
eminent can best discharge its duty
in caring for such iepere by the es-
ia blishmsnt OF one or more national
loprosoria under the direction OF the
United States Public Health Service.
10 which lepers discovered In the
States may at once be sent for OBJ
servation and treatment.
Resolved. third. that the Senators
and Representatives of the Common
wealth OF Virginia in the Congre OF
the United States may be requested
10 advocate the establishment OF one
or more national leprosoria with the
least possible delay.
Resolved fourth that copies OF
these resolutions be dispatched al
once to each OF the Senators ana Rep
resentatives OF the Commonwealth
the United States and that a copy
be likewise sent the Surgeon General
OF the United States Public Health
Service. Hon. Rupert Blue. VI. D,
With the exception of These resolu-
tons, the meeting of the board was
devoid of particular incidents OF pub
lie interest. Much routine business.
however, was transacted, ana text of
new laws to be asked from the Gen.
eral Assembly was discussed and
several vacancies In local boards Of
health were filled.
The following members of the
board were present:
Or. W. NJ. Smith. OF Alexandria.
president: DR.. g, w Hohson. OF New
port News. vtce-preeident; DR.. J. B.
Fisher. Of Midlothian. secretary: Or.
3. Lawson, Of Roanoke: DR.. Stuart
MCGUIRE. OF Richmond; DR.. L. T.
Royster. of Norfolk: DR.. Reid White.
OF Lexington, and .. O. O. Wright, of