MIOKOBE OF THE LEPRA PLAGUE 203 



true skin. The poison breaks down the cells, forms 

 bunches. The bunches ulcerate, form pus. This 

 form of the disease is exceedingly loathsome. 

 Banished from society, the victim ekes out a miser- 

 able existence of many years. 



The plague is very ancient, and has appeared in- 

 differently in all countries. Individual cases have 

 occurred in several of the United States. " Incur- 

 able " has been the word. Yet recent investiga- 

 tions give promise of an antitoxine in the near fu- 

 ture which shall cure. 



Meanwhile, prevention is the rule. In some 

 lonely spot preferably a small island in the 

 ocean the pest house, with the most rigid quar- 

 antine, is the only proper place on earth, for the 

 leper. 



