LEPER ISLAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 6052, 9 November 1906, Page 11

LEPER ISLAND

THE COOK GROUP. v HISTORY OE THE DISEASE. Dr Pomnre, Health Officer to tho Maoris, lias made the following report to tho Chief Health Officer on leprosy in tlio Cook Group;— , Tho alarming reports which were circulated some time ago re tho spread of this malady woro entirely unfounded. I took particular caro to make a thorough examination, and but for a few Suggestions nothing more could bo done than was being done by tho Federal Government. The history of leprosy in tho Cook Group is a very interesting olio. PITIABLE CASES. Casa U, missionary (native), aged CO years.—Patient lived with a leper, Alarorohera, at TnkoU. Leprosy was contracted by Marerehera at Hawaii. After tliis patient lived with his sister for three or four years. Sho was married to a leper, who had contracted tho disease at Honolulu. Three years ago , patient noticed tin anaesthetic blotch on left) foot, which suppurated, leaving an Unhealed ulcer. Six months ago face, hands, and legs commenced to swell, and a small anaesthetic ulcer developed on left small too. I had case completely isolated some distance, from the 'Village on tho other side of the island; The house in which the patient lived is destroyed, and tho church has been thoroughly fumigated and washed out with bichloride of mercury. Caoe 0, female, 10 years of ago.— Developed complaint three years ago. Lived with relative, Marerehera the leper. Got it by direct contact. Has typical leonine face, leper’s claws, bullous eruptions, ulcere, patches ■ of anaesthesia—in fact, is in tho last ttagoa of leprosy. The patient is well Isolated, having a stone wall around her wnorm Case D, male, aged 25 years, living at RalraKanga -Three years ago the aufferer lived with. Tinka, a Penrhyn leper, Who has since died. Patient has anaostuesia of both ankles and feet, face and ears swollen, bullous eruptions tcattered over tho body, and two white pafiohes on tho body. Case is well isolated with two other lepers on a separate island. Case E, aged 20.—Developed disease •four years ago at Penrhyn. Since being at Rakahanga has become very much worse. Case is far advancedthree toes gone on right foot, two on tho loft, hands ulcerated, patches of scaly skin, anaesthetic patches all over, Casa isolate_d with the other cases on •Mm island. Case F, agod 40.—Developed disease four months ago. Had come directly into contact iVith other lepers. .Has Bwollon face and oars. Anaesthesia in both lege, scaly blotches and patches. Cose is completely isolated by himself on another island. THE ORIGIN. It appears that about twenty years i(go a kanaka from Honolulu, Nuku by .■name, went to Mahibiki and there died of leprosy, which had been contracted at Hawaii. It is from him. that tho rest got this dreadful disease. Since 188 G tho following have died of leprosy at Manihiki:—(l) Nuku, male; (2) Toapa, male; (3) Marerehera, male; (4) Whakaata, male; (5) Puatea. male; (6) Tot a, male; (7) Tarani, female; (8) Mutiakoa, male; (9) Taniro, male. The following aro tho Penrhyn cases (isolated at Leper Island): —Case G. faimdo, sister of case A, aged 15 years; Contracted disease through eating lice from leprous adopted mother; case fully diseased; has boon on island four years; usual symptoms—ulcers, anaesthesia, etc.; very scaly. Case H, female, aged 40 years: Grandfather had leprosy; got it by living with him. Oaso 1, aged 40 yearn:' Got it from husband; anaesthesia, blebs, and ulcers. Case J, aged 13 years: Got it from brother at Maniliiki; been one year on island; usual symptoms, but not so bad. Case K, jgod 14 years: Mother died of leprosy; right hand Was burned but was never noticed, left a big soar; leper’s claw, nloera on left foot, anaesthesia in patches all over tho body. Case L, ■sgod 13 years: Uncle died of leprosy; associated with a leper at Penrhyn; -wise in last stages. Case M, aged 14 years: Father isolated the case; par-, onto both healthy, but adopted father died of leprosy at Molokai; usual leprous signs, with anaesthesia and nicer on left hand. Case N, agod 38 years: Had lived with a leprous Savnoan for eight years; loft toe gone, right-hand fingers all mere stomps, left band leper’s daw; anaesthesia, etc. Oaso O, aged 18 years: Father died of leprosy; case in very last stages. Oaso P, >aged 15 years: Mother died of leprosy; ease also in last stages. EXAMINATION OF SUPPOSED LEPERS. While at Manihiki I examined a woman who was isolated for supposed leprosy. Two years age her face and hands began to swell, but gradually got well again. Sho said sho got it from her husband. I examined the husband ns well as tho wife, and found them • both healthy. From tho description given of tho disease, I have not the

slightest doubt it was erysipelas. Case was liberated. Tho following are Penrhyn cases:—■ Ca-so (a), male, aged 17 years—Contracted disease two years ago from his mother ,who died about two years ago. His brother is on Molokai. Has anaesthesia in both logs and hands. Ulcer on ball of right foot and on the right hand. X ordered immediate transportatioxl of case to Molokai, which wds done. Casa (b), female, aged 8 years.—Parents both healthy. Fourteen brothers and sisters all healthy. ’Origin of contact obscure, probably through staying in tho same house that some leper had lived in, which house I ordered to bo destroyed. Right knee has a small anaesthetic ulcer, due to its being burnt by accident, so the mother said. White anaesthetic patches on right shoulder-blade and right palm. Case (c), aged 14 years.—Parents, brothers, and sisters absolutely healthy, but grandmother is on Molokai with leprosy. Patient had no direct contact with her, as far as can be ascertained'. Examination negatived. Case (d), male, aged 23 years.—Case has been isolated with lepers on. Molokai for eight months. Examination revealed tho fact that he was only suffering from segasega (eczema). I ordered him to he taken to one of tho other islands and isolated hy himself for one year, to sco if ho should, develop the disease, he having been isolated with the lepers for so long. If at the end of n year he does not develop leprosy ho is to bo liberated. Oase (e), 'aged 14 years.—Father healthy. Mother died of unknown disease. Four sisters and one brother nil well, except brother has sores simitar to syphilis. Present trouble commenced by burning his foot and then his left hand. Six months ago an ulcer formed, piercing left big toe: ulcer unhealed. White patches on. chest and left shoulder, anaesthesia on left hand. Second finger a claw, third, fourth, and little fingers' ends dropped off, piercing uloer bn third finger; ulcer on right side of foot. Leprosy. A SAD STORY.

The history of leprosy in Penrhyn is a sad and interesting one. Siku was a Penrhyn native who lived in Samoa with an Hawaiian leper for several years. He returned in 1885 to Penrhyn, and there leprosy broke out ou him. Since thou the following have died from it: (1) Siku, male; (2) Tawitau, male; (3) Haxnoto, male; (4) Saraknra, female; (6) Kopu, male; (6) Tuatahi, male; (7) Tonga,’ male; (8) Urungu, male; (9) Takapuata, male; (10) Toheputa, female; (11) Turua, male; (12) Torararua, male; (13) Repo, male; (14) Hio, male; (15) Rota, male; (16) Piha, female; (17) Mama female; (18) Ruaputa, female; (19) Kahanoau, female; (20) Saimanu, male; (21) Tepou, female; (22) Maria, female; (23) Silika, male; (2d) Te Ton, male; (25) Aumata, female; (26) Horaiwa, female; (27) Urauraratu, female; (28) Te Kapua, male; (29) Peu, female: (30) Maria, female; (31) Te Unu, male. Thus we see that thirty-one deaths have occurred since 1885 from leprosy, and twelve are now isolated with it. The statement which was printed in some of our New Zealand papers, a while back; that no isolation had been attempted is absolutely false. The fact of the matter is that tho natives were rather too keen in isolating ©very oase which looked in tho slightest way suspicious, and hence X had to liberate four people who were net suffering from leprosy at all. I have instructed all the British Resident Agents that if in future a person is suspected of suffering from leprosy, he or she is to be isolated alone, and not allowed to mix with any of tho lepers till a medical man comes along, which must be every throe or four months. It is absolutely necessary that a medical man should visit tho group regularly, to see not only the lepers but those suffering from other ailments. MATTER FOR INQUIRY.

The question of looking after the lepers at Penrhyn is one to he inquired into. Tho poor unfortunates do not girt enough to eat. There will ho no need to ask for a volunteer as a keeper, as wo have already an unrecognised Father Damien in Meka and his young wife, who volunteered to live on the island in order to be near their adopted son. I really do not know what would have happened to these poor unfortunate British subjects if Mokn had not volunteered to go amongst them. Ho does all the fishing and looking after the sufferers, and for this ho receives no recognition from the civilised world in either funds or praise. Perhaps when the great Master will call His own Ho will say unto him, “Good and faithful servant, enter into tho rest of thy Lord.” [‘For no greater love has man than this: that he lay down his life for his friend.”