THE SUSPECTED CASE OF LEPROSY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 12, 14 July 1903, Page 5

THE SUSPECTED CASE OF LEPROSY.

ACTION BY THE AUTHORITIES. Kirn Lee, Chinese fruiterer, of Adel-aide-road, Newtown, who has been re- j moved to Somes Island under suspicion of being a sufferer from leprosy, is one of the trio of Chinese against whom charges for possession of opium are still pending before the Stipendiary Magistrate. It appears that Kirn came to the colony about eleven years ago. For two years he was gardening at the Hutt, and also hawked goods in the city. For about eight years he has been in business in Adelaide-road, and has been during that period an _ inveterate opium smoker. Two other Chinamen, hawkers, have been living with him. It appears that the parts which show the disease, whatever it may be, are the face, on which something»like raised* nodules of a reddish colour appear, and the leg; and that the affected parts have lost f eeling. According to an acquaintance of Kirn Lee, "he has only been walking lame for a "few months, but has been looking bad in the face for more than a year." Chief Inspector Doyle, of the City Corporation Staff, had his attention drawn to this alleged case of leprosy, just as it had been drawn to other alleged cases on previous occasions. A naturalised Chinaman, a man of intelligence and some knowledge of the disease, mentioned the matter to him on Saturday. Proceeding to investigate, Mr. Doyle found Kirn Lee serving in his shop, and, after examination, considered ifc was a case for the Health authorities. Dr. Pollen and Mr. Doyle visited the shop later, and Kirn Lee was isolated and confined to a room till yesterday morning, when the Inspector took him down to the Public Health Department, where he was examined by'Drs. Valintine and Pollen. As the result of that examination he was at once sent over to Somes Island and the Inspector and two officials from the Health Department returned to the shop in Adelaide-road and removed the fruit, vegetables, bedding, clothing, etc., out of the place to the destructor. The premises were thoroughly disinfected and secured. A quantity of preserves, tea, soap, tobacco, etc., remain in the shop, and the police have been notified to watch the place. Dr. Valintine will visit the premises to-day, and the building, which is old, will probably be condemned. It is understood that Dr. Pollen is inclined to believe the case to be one of leprosy.