WARE THE LEPERI

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 71, 17 December 1907, Page 7

WARE THE LEPERI

' AN' UNFORTUNATE' VISITOR.. : . . 'AVare the leper I"■ is •an unhappy cry that, in. liiediaival. days,. liiudo all hearers shudder,- and crouch'as-far-as possible from the wasting. dpath-iii-life,: afllictcd : with-; this terrible .disease., .Even.' now, from .its: historical associations and visible' dreadfulness, the complaint prompts something of the same shudder wheiv its lianio is.-mentioned,- though doctors point out that, iii countries like New Zealand' loprosy is a rare disease, easily deflected and isolated, and 1 comparatively slow of infection—not-nearly'So awful in -itsconsequenccs; as- tuberculosis, ! ana< at least one'other disease.: :. A leper arrived in AVellington on Sunday by tho tramp cargo steamer Manatoiy which ealleil at' this-port to take in coal oirhcr way to Talcaluina, South America. Dr.i Pollen', Port Health..Officer, refused the vessel pratique on 'this account'when ho visited her on Sunday:-.. -.'is - : -..y'V ,t ! \ Ycstorilay' morning; Dr. Pollen and Dr. Frenglevj Health Olliccr. for tho Wellington district, went.,'on..board- the.,Maiiaton, .aiid examined the unfortunate mail. ' Ho js.sulfeiv ing from- tin: form of the disease known as lepra. tuberculatum, which chiefly manifests itself- by thickenings of tho skin. Tho other form, of the disease is called the .aniusthetio .form. It all'ects tho nerves,, and is tmani'festod by loss of power and'shrinkage of the limbs. Tho man is a ilative of tho (jreck Archipelago, where leprosy is not uncommon, and be bas ;beon' on board tho Manaton for some time,, as at; no port where .the .vessel touched were the local.authorities -willing to .receivo- him-; ashore; Whon ; the - Health Ofiioi'rs decided yesterday to allow tho Manaton to-coal, special precautions wero taken to prevent- the- leper coming ■ intjo contact with any of the Joeid people. : : -, Tho ronewed her voyage last- evening, carrying this nfilicted member of her crow, ,\yho-.will .doubtless' continue -to travel till-he nriiyes again atnong-his native islands. At present his afiiiction docs not trouble him much ; lie .is strong,. brisk, and apparently quite happy.-nnd .coji tcutcdhis lot.