THE LATEST LEPER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 908, 30 August 1910, Page 4

THE LATEST LEPER.

.. ;— *- ■- ■. ■. : _ ■ FROM THE HEART OF.THE CITYi \ On Saturday last a. "message was received from Christehurch respecting anew addition to the little- leper colony on Quail Island, Lyttelton, who arrived there on Wednesday last. The message stated that the; Health Department othcials were observing the utmost reticence I regarding the case, the third now isolated on the island. It will be learnt with, surprise that the case—that of a white man with a wife and children—was'discovered in Taranaki Street, in the very heart of. Wellington city, a few days ago, and on'the complaint being diagnosed beyond all question .'as .one'of .. leprosy, arrangements were-made for hia removal to Quail Island. It is understood that the man, who is said to have come" from Queensland originally, has been undergoing medical treatment in .Wellington for two years past. It is further stated, that the wife of the afflicted man is in very poor circumstances, and is now in receipt, of charitable aid. : ■ ' .' . Leprosy was at one time thought to be infectious, but tho disease,' though communicable by association, cannot 'he placed-, under that heading. Food handled by lepers is the readiest means of transmission. People have .been known to live for long periods among: lepers without taking the disease, nnd in the East—where there has of recent years been a considerable hygienic awakening—the leper is still allowed a fair amount of liberty, which he utilises, aa . a rule, to beg for the means of subsistence. . ,