THE LEPER'S LONELY LIFE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8910, 9 November 1907, Page 2

THE LEPER'S LONELY LIFE.

About eighteen months ago considerable stir who occasioned in Christchurch when it was announced that a young man was suffering from leprosy, and steps were at once taken by the health authorities to ■ isolate the patient. The quarantine station at Quail Island, in Lyfcfcelton Harbour, was selected by the authorities as being the most suitable 'place for the isolation.

For waist oi' a more suitable dwell-iug-place the patient was housed in the large hospital building, near the house of the caretaker, which is situated in a pretty little bay on the south side of the islaud. The rooms in the hospital building are very large, and the sufferer, compelled to "dwell alone" and apart from his fellow creatures, was unable to make himself comfortable in the big building, of which he was the sole occupant. About six months ago, therefore, the authorities of the Health* Department had a snug dweliinghouse erected about 200 yards further round the bay. This little house is built structure, provided wither-fire place and plainly but comfortably fitted and furnished for the accommodation of the unfortunate patient, who is now settled down in it, and " who, as far as his terrible malady will allow, has made himself "at home" in it. Life as a whole must be monotonous to him, yet according to a Press reporter who lias been inquiring into the case, he keeps up his spirits in a wonderful manner. The doctor visits him once a month, and his relatives also go across to see him, but apart from these visits there is nothing for him to look forward to. He is not permitted to walk very far from his Douse, along the front of which a fence has been built, and past the end of this fence he may not come. Everything possible has been done by the authorities to make his existence comfortable, and among other conveniences a telephone has been fitted up to enable him to communicate with his friends in the outside world. The caretaker of the island attends to all the wants of the lonely patient, and he and the members of his family do all in their power to make, matters as pleasant as possible for their charge. They dare not, of course, go him for fear of infection, Xjfrthey often converse with him frorna distance. His meals are all cooked at the caretaker's house, but owing to his growing helplessuess everything to be cut up ready for him. At the end of the fence in front of his house is a small table on which everything he requires is left for him to take into his house at meal-times. He leaves his own plates on the table and his food is emptied from the dishes in which it is brought from the caretaker's house on to his plates. Month by mouth the disease is creeping on him, and he is gradually becomingweaker and more helpless. Even his firewood, which he formerly cut himself, has now to be got ready for him, as ho finds it increasingly difficult tq use hip hands. Some days liO is much better, but last wee]* he scarcely sj.jrrr out Of his house for two days." The time is approaching when the poor fellow will become helpless and too weak to move out of his house, and the problem will be what to do with him then. It will be necessary for some person to nurse him, for he cannot be left to die unattended. The reporter was informed other day that the was unable to spend much of _.j.s time reading, as his eyesight is commencing to fail him. He appreciates illustrated papers and periodicals, however. The caretaker at Quail Islaud inform- /** ed the reporter that he would glad to receive illustrated papers and magazines to pass on to his patient. Some time ago he purchased a grammaphoue and a number of records, much to the enjoyment of the patient.