SELF DIAGNOSED LEPER

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18063, 9 March 1923, Page 6

SELF DIAGNOSED LEPER

MAN’S PERSISTENT DECLARATION OFFERS TO PAY FOR COMMITTAL. AN EXTRAORDINARY REQUESTfoWN CORTIEP'oriNDENT-] WELLINGTON, Thursday. Tho investigation of cases of ft peculiar nature is almost a daily occurrence w'ltn tho Department of Public Health and unusual typos of people aro not infrequently encountered; but none is as extraordinary and no typo so wjard as that of a. self-diagnosed leper which came up for inquiry at Paten* Declaring that ho was convinced that he was suffering from leprosy, the man recently advised the Department that, in spite of tho local doctor’s refutation of his conclusions, ho desired admittance to tho leper colony, and inquired the procedure necessary as ho was dailv becoming worse. Thus tho postscript: An urgont caso; assist me if possible.. Leprosy, His Present Craze. Searching inquiries were carried out at Wanganui by th o medical officer who submitted a report couched in tho following terms: “I have seen Dr. of Patea, a'oout the seltdiagnosed leper, and the case turned out what one might, expect-. Ihe patient has recently taken to reading' somo medical work that lie possesses and appears before tho doctor with a. l'resh complaint about every month. Leprosy is his present craze. Until recently ho lias had attacks of gangrene. I also managed to see the patient and found a man about 48 years of age, bearded and heavy looking, but not 'leonine.’ I found that ho had been a farmer but now had sufficient to live upon and followed no occupation. He told m e that bo suffered from heart disease and various other ailments. His diagnosis of leprosy is made from the fact that ho felt pricking in his toes. I suggested that a, little light work to keep liis circulation in order; but work —No! .Before long I think Porirua will claim him, but’certainly not Quail Island. e Immediate committal Requested. Subsequent ,by the. contents of the report were presented to tho alleged sufferer, who, however. remained obdurate. “I am a leper, and there i sno disputing it,” he wrote back. “I am attacked in the tongue, and my hands and feet are Y 0 ba.d and my toe nails and fingernails aro coming oil. I have Ivcen in hospital and am sorry I went there. I want to go to Quail Island at once. Please arrange for this before I am totally blind and while 1 can walk a little. Please give this your urgent attention.” In the course of a reply the Department pointed out that in view of tho reports of tho medical officer no further action would bo taken. The matter did not finish there, and once again tho man urged a pathetic claim for committal to the colony. “Pay own expenses to Lyttelton,” ran a telegram the Department received, “If sent to Quail Island; book Perth; reply.” There was a. reply, the brevity of which was more than compensated for by its decisive tone. .Hero it is: “You aro not suffering from leprosy; therefore no need to seek residence Quail Island.”-