LEPROSY (OF. leprosie,' from ML. leprosia, from MGck. 7thrpcurris, lepr6sis, leprosy, from Gk. Xerpo lepronsthai, to become leprous, from Nes-pa, lepru, leprosy). A constitutional disease of chronic character, endemic in certain lo calities, contagions through intercourse with an infected person. and due to the presence of the Bacillus leprw (Hansen) being characterized by the formation of nodular infiltrations and other nutritional changes in the skin and by an eruption. It is also called Lepra, Elephantiasis Gra.corunt. Satyriasis, Leontiasis, as well Zaroolh in 'Hebrew, and Uchetie in Egyptian. Egypt is called the cradle of leprosy, and it cer tainly existed in that country from a very re mote period. On papyri found in the tombs of kings, descriptions of it are given. The Papyrus Ehers, transcribed in the fifteenth century n.c., describes and prescribes for it. Assyrian and Babylonian hieroglyphics relate to the disease. It has existed in India at least 3000 years. Lep rosy was described by a writer of 2000 years ago in China. Greece had seen the disease before Hippocrates wrote of it. It was probably taken to Arabia before the time of Mohammed. It was common among the Jews in n.C. 260. Aretitus, ass. SI, found it spreading over Western Europe. The Romans contracted it from the Greeks: the troops of Pompey carried it into Italy in the first century n.c. Pilgrims from the Holy Land introduced the disease into England (Simpson). Wales. Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and other parts of Europe became infected. 'flip invasion of America by the disease cannot be traced.
Segregation of lepers was practiced at a very early date. According to Ilerodotus. the Per sians exiled lepers in his day. .11oses, following Egyptian customs, segregated lepers among the Jews. Canthie is authority for the statement that the Chinese burned lepers alive. In the Ages leproseries were established in France under chaplains. and the lepers were uniformly garbed and provided with a rattle, with which to warn others of their approach. ln the time of Louis there were 2000 leper-houses in France, while the number in Europe. excluding those in Russia and Sweden, was 10,000 (Marrow). In the British Isles isolation was enforced, lodgings in leper-houses, cowls, gray habits, sticks, and clappers being furnished to the unfortunates. In modern times
strict segregation is practiced in almost all lo calities where lepers are found. In the United States. Louisiana alone has built a special laza retto for lepers, in which about 75 were segre gated in 1902.
The annexation of the Hawaiian Islands by the United States brought the Government face to face with the problem of caring fnr the lepers. A commission was ordered in January. IS9S. con sisting of eertain physicians in the Marine Hos pital Service, to ascertain the facts regarding leprosy and enumerate the lepers in the country. Their task had not been begun when the Spanish American War broke out. in November, 1898, Dr, D. A. Carmichael, of the United States Marine hospital Service, made an extended re port on leprosy in the Hawaiian Islands. There were then in the leper settlement on Molokai 634 leper males, 439 leper females—total, 1073, including 141 boys and 130 girls. Also of non leprous children of leprous parents, 43 male and 1S female—total, 61. Also helpers (Kokuas), non-leprous persons living in the settlement and caring for relatives, 37 males and 36 females— total, 73. Also non - leprous priests, sisters, brothers, teachers, etc., 61. Grand total, 1207. In 1901 a systematic search for lepers was made in the islands, and all suspected eases were thor oughly examined, all lepers being sent to the colony. The new cases in 1900 were but S5 in number, as compared with 132 in 1890. At the Molokai settlement at the close of 1901 there were 909 lepers and 164 clean persons, who are maintained, fed, housed and clothed, and gov erned at an annual expense of 880,000. Under the new rules, visitors are not allowed to em brace, kiss, or touch the lepers, as formerly, while they are allowed to visit them at any time, separated by a double wire fence. (See HA WAIIAN ISLANDS.) Leprosy is said to he prev alent in Brittany and Savoy to-day. Rus sian authorities report the scourge present in Livonia and Smolensk. The United States con sul reports the existence of 200 lepers on the island of Teneriffe, Canary Islands. Germany. Russia, and Rumania, in 1891, mutually agreed to give no passports to- lepers. At least 30 lepers are known to exist in Canadian cities, while the United States Marine Hospital com mission has found 900 in this country.