Care and treatment of persons afflicted with leprosy : report of the Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine, United States Senate, on S. 4086, a bill to provide for the care and treatment of persons afflicted with leprosy, and to prevent the spread of leprosy in the United States.

  • United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine.
Date:
1916
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Care and treatment of persons afflicted with leprosy : report of the Committee on Public Health and National Quarantine, United States Senate, on S. 4086, a bill to provide for the care and treatment of persons afflicted with leprosy, and to prevent the spread of leprosy in the United States. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/120 (page 87)
    while in interstate transit and which are probably the only cases which at the present time can be properly taken care of by the Gov- ernment? ” be CuarrMan. Did all of your correspondents reply to your in- quiry 2 | Dr. Horrman. Practically all were good enough to do so. A few made no reply, probably because no leprosy existed in the State or municipality concerned. In summarizing the results I find that 39 _ State health officers replied in the affirmative and only 1—Cali- | - fornia—replied in the negative. That health officer, however, is no longer connected with the California State Board of Health. What the attitude of the present officer is I do not know. 4 The Cuatrman. These are the replies of the health officers oy es tates ? Dr. Horrman. Yes: the official health officers of 39 States, without qualification, indorsed the principle of this bill as set forth in the question contained in my circular letter of inquiry. The CuarrmMan. Was there any objection urged to the bill? — Dr. Horrman. No specific objection was raised by anyone further than that the State health officer of California in office at the time simply replied in the negative. W ith your permission, I would like to incorporate in the record the following extracts from some of the letters received. : The secretary of the State Board of Health of Illinois replies: “This board favors the establishment of an institution in which proper care. of lepers may. be taken. As an instance in which such an institution would~ have been of practical service, I would respectfully recall the ee of the city of Highland Park, IIl.”. : Dr. Hurty. State health officer of Indiana, writes as follows: ‘ ee | believe that segregation in all cases is advisable. . Lepers should not be at large in the community. I favor a national leprosarium. -Leprosy is a national problem, on account of - its unusual features and the history of the - disease.” ir The State health 2 commissioner of Oklahoma wiles as follows: _ “Two cases of leprosy were ‘reported to me and both were negroes. Both had ‘come from New Orleans and both had spent several years in Mexico. One was . discovered first in the State penitentiary, and he- subsequently escaped. The | guards were very much afraid of him: The other was a pauper on a poor farm, where he died. I am. confident that there are many’ more lepers than can be cared for causes them and their families to keep the knowledge of nize its responsibility in leprosy. The United States Government can care eon all of these and should provide a hospital for them, and that at once.” _ The director of Public Health and Charities of Philadelphia states _ that he favors segregation for all lepers, and he adds: ° “The manner in which lepers are shunned is not a ‘credit to an intelligent people. It would be ideal to havea national leprosarium: but it probably is hot feasible on account of functions required of each State.” The secretary of the State Board of Health of Utah writes that he yt emphatically i in favor of a national leprosarium.” . The acting commissioner of health of the city of Seattle ete 2 We think there should be a national leprosarium, and we are also of the ; opinion that ‘arrangements should be made whereby oie State and olty autho