LEPROSY 189 



ment and State health authorities now is to return 

 them to their native countries when practicable. 



We have in the United States one centre of lep- 

 rosy infection which has existed for many years, and 

 in which new cases are still developed from time to 

 time. This is in Louisiana. According to Dr. Dyer, 

 who has made a special investigation with reference 

 to leprosy in New Orleans and vicinity, 270 cases 

 have developed in that State since 1878. Of these, 

 171 were born in Louisiana and 39 were born in 

 Europe. 



What has already been said with reference to the 

 history and geographical distribution of leprosy indi- 

 cates that even when no special precautions are taken 

 there is little danger that the disease will spread to 

 any extent in countries where the people are accus- 

 tomed to civilised ways of living and pay a reason- 

 able degree of attention to cleanliness. Nevertheless, 

 most writers upon the subject, and health authorities, 

 national and local, insist upon the isolation of lepers ; 

 and, where there are a considerable number of these 

 unfortunates, upon their segregation in suitably lo- 

 cated colonies, where they can have whatever comfort 

 and enjoyment is possible under the conditions ex- 

 isting in such isolated localities, while at the same time 

 they are removed from the possibility of communi- 

 cating the disease to others. I am in full accord with 



