Evening star., 1928-12-08

Another triumph for modern medical
science is hailed in the cure of John
Early, formerly uneasy inmate Of the
leper home In Louisiana, who is to be
free to go wherever he pleases, after
years of treatment and efforts to es-
cape from the authorities. It has been
suggested that the success in his case,
through the use OF chaulmoogra oil, will
give impetus to the campaign started
by Gen. Leonard Wood to wipe out this
ancient scourge in the Philippines.
The incident becomes more important,
in the opinion of observers, by reason
of the fact that Early already is widely
known Indeed, if 1t had not been
Times-Star 1.-The public would hardly
have known that this disease of the
Middle Ages still fingered in our West
ern civilization. The leper colony IN
the Hawaiian Islands had become ia
nous, but the fact that great hos
pital was maintained in Louisiana to
house our lepers became known only
because of John Early's frequent out
breaks of nostalgia"
He did not like the confinement
which authorities put upon him." re-
calls the Savannah Morning News, but
it was best for the world, as 1t was best
for him. He is no longer leper; ne
is John Early, free citizen. He ought
to be one of the strongest advocates
4 of the need of limiting personal liberty
| for the general good" In this connec-
ton the News explains that "he had the
| idea that he should not be locked up
| and treated; that he conceived that
it was his right, his right to personal
| liberty, to go and come as he pleased
Referring to Early's boyhood in North
| Carolina and to his service in the
Spanish American War, the Columbia
Record says of the disease: He is said
to have contracted it in the Philippine
service. Seventeen years ago the dis
| ease appeared under the most trying
circumstances. Early was living with
his wife and two small children on
small tract of land near Tacoma, WASH.
| Recording that the community was
shocked at that time, the Columbia
paper observes that Ibis frequent es-
capes from confinement and efforts to
return to his boyhood home appealed TO
the sympathy Of the whole Nation"
The New orleans Morning Tribune
remarks that the announcement OF ms
| leaving the leper colony docs not
arouse the alarm created by similar
announcements in the past" for ne
leaves this time by the front door and
| with the permission Of the health au-,
| thorities." Referring to the cases OF
others who recently have been dis
charged from that colony, the Tribune
states that all the cures are credited
to the chaulmoogra oil treatment and
| that "itS technique has been improved
| so that 1t is not SO painful to the
patients, while retaining its effective
ness"
The South Bend Tribune also points
| out that the treatment has been avail
able for some time, but until recently
all but the most heroic victims OF the
biblical scourge felt that the cure was
worse than the disease" The Tribune
adds that Early's Happiness ought to
be complete, because there is hope for
| his friends within the refuge" The
Portland oregon Journal declares that
the cure "haS given a message OF hope
to thousands of sufferers in the tropics
and has assured white people Of in
creased safety If they live IN winter
less zones"
"Nothing is of more genuine impor-
tance in the news of any day." in the
opinion of the Nashville Banner, than
word that a leper has been cured Suf-
f1ciently to 60 back into the ranks of
| society. Every SUCH IIlCluGllu H'dLh ND q
splendid triumph for medical science
and for the public which has supplied
the funds to carry on the infinitely
careful experiments There are
today in the world about 100000
lepers Early's case is ample proof of
the efficacy of treatment. The two
facts together are challenge to the
humane and charitable of this and
every other land"
The Importance of the case as a
precedent is emphasized also by the
Saginaw Daily News, with the COM
ment: There Is in this proof OF the
invaluable work done by the late Gen.
Leonard Wood In behalf of the numer-
Gus lepers of the Philippines. He es-
tablished at Culion splendid station
for reception and treatment OF lepers,
and lived long enough to see results that
justified his magnificent efforts, as well
as the appeals to this country for funds
to carry on the work. Aside
from its humane aspects. this war upon
leprosy has an enormous economic
value for the world" The Passaic