Report of the Select Committee on the Spread of Leprosy.

  • Cape of Good Hope (Colony). Select Committee on the Spread of Leprosy.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Select Committee on the Spread of Leprosy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    ;i3l in Superiutendeut of Eobbeu Island, they are frequent] supplied with brandy which is smuggled on to the islanc and they have opportunities, of which some seem to ava: themselves, of sexual intercourse with these visitors It i , only fair to add that this latter statement is not adraittc by Dr. ^^ynne, the medical officer immediately in charg of the lepers. The female wards were enclosed with a higl wall and were in a pretty fair condition; but as t- the wards occupied by the male patients, your Com mittee, after a personal inspection, can only describe mos of them as being in a disgraceful condition. Througl want of means it may have been necessary to have floor, of porous soil, ill-ventilated rooms and want of cubic space but there is no excuse for the filthy state in which you; Committee found some of these wards, and for the neglec of all sanitary precautions, both inside and outside these buildings. Your Committee did not deem it part o] their duty to inquire whether the responsibility fo: this state of things rests with the Medical Board, oi with Dr. Eoss, or with Dr. Wynne, but they do think that the institution as conducted affords an admii^abh illustration of what ought to be avoided in the iKanage- ment of similar establishments. In one of the wards the medical gentlemen who accompanied your Committee found a white boy whom they pronounced to be quite free from leprosy. It is clear that an institution conducted in such a manner is worse than useless as a protection to the unafflicied portion of the community. 8. To effectually protect the community your Committee are of opinion that complete segregation under responsible and effective supervision, and with every possible safeguard. ^ against abuse, affords the only remedy. This might ap- pear a harsh measure, but its necessity becomes obvious- . when it is found that lepers are now allowed freely to plv ^ trades which bring them into daily and immediate contact with the public, and (iven to make and knead butter intended. . for sale to the public. The disease is not yet so universal ^ that it may not be effectually coped with, but every year's delay will make the task a more difficult one. With our diversified population, including races of the lowest ty|)e,
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