DEATH OF A LEPER IN LONDON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2742, 8 February 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

DEATH OF A LEPER IN LONDON.

At a meeting of the Committee of Works of St. Georgo's (Hanover Square) Vestry, recently, the death of a leper in St. George's Hospital was reported. Dr. Corfield, the medical officer of health for the district, in makiug his usual monthly report, stated that the deceased man was formerly a soldier in the Madras Presidcuoy, and it is presumed that the disease was contracted during his residence there. He first presented himself at St. George's Hospital in August last year, and on the nature of his complaint being diaeovered he was admitted. Ho remained in ,the Hospital till February of this year, when he took his discharge,'but presented himself again for admission in May, and ultimately died on July 17. The death was duly certified by the hospital authorities, and there is said to be no doubt that it was due to leprosy. Mr Dovey, a member of the board, expressed surprise that the man was kept so long in the hospital. Dr. Corfield said that this was probably due to the rarity of the disease in England, the doctors boing glad to keep such a case under their notice, bo that they could study it. The fact of there being a, patient suffering from leproey in the hospital appears to have been kept an absolute secret till his death.