Camden Daily Courier, October 14, 1908View transcription
NEIGHBORS OF THE ALLEGED LEPER'S FAMILY IN FEAR
Residents of Clay Street Alarmed Without Provocation.
SOME HINTS THAT ASYLUM PATIENT HAS OTHER DISEASES
The action of the employees of Camden Coke Company in refusing work with Prince Clarke, the father of Charles Clarke, whom the county authorities think is afflicted with leprosy, has stirred the residents of Clay street to a pitch of excitement that excels anything the neighborhood has ever known. Yesterday when Dr. Leavitt went to examine the standard at Broadway and Mt. Vernon street, the medical man was plied with all kinds of questions bearing on the case and the result of contact with those suspected of having the disease. Many of the colored boys in the locality were alarmed because of the fact that they have intermingled freely with the Clarke boys and if there was anything serious the matter with them they thought that they ran a good chance of getting the disease.
The active first treatment which the leper had at the Douglass Hospital at Fifteenth and Lombard streets, Philadelphia, was by Dr. Gordon Shoemaker, who treated the boy for an affection of the spine. The medical name of the disease as given by Dr. Gordon Shoemaker was "myelitis." Dr. Gordon claimed the boy had no leprosy resulting from some severe shock affecting the spine, and which resulted in periodical deadening of the circulation of the fingers.
It is stated that Dr. Hurff, of the Blackwood Asylum, is present in his opinion that it is not leprosy, but there have been so many rumors going around that it would be unwise to trust entirely upon them to fully determine the diagnosis.
The health officials have granted the father a clean bill of health, and will continue to do so.
— Camden Daily Courier, October 14, 1908.
NEIGHBORS OF THE ALLEGED LEPER'S FAMILY IN FEAR
Residents of Clay Street Alarmed Without Provocation.
SOME HINTS THAT ASYLUM PATIENT HAS OTHER DISEASES
The action of the employees of Camden Coke Company in refusing work with Prince Clarke, the father of Charles Clarke, whom the county authorities think is afflicted with leprosy, has stirred the residents of Clay street to a pitch of excitement that excels anything the neighborhood has ever known. Yesterday when Dr. Leavitt went to examine the standard at Broadway and Mt. Vernon street, the medical man was plied with all kinds of questions bearing on the case and the result of contact with those suspected of having the disease.
The active first treatment which the leper had at the Douglass Hospital at Fifteenth and Lombard streets, Philadelphia, was by Dr. Gordon Shoemaker, who treated the boy for an affection of the spine. The medical name of the disease as given by Dr. Gordon Shoemaker was "myelitis." Dr. Gordon claimed the boy had no leprosy resulting from some severe shock affecting the spine, and which resulted in periodical deadening of the circulation of the fingers.
It is stated that Dr. Hurff, of the Blackwood Asylum, is present in his opinion that it is not leprosy, but there have been so many rumors going around that it would be unwise to trust entirely upon them to fully determine the diagnosis. The health officials have granted the father a clean bill of health, and will continue to do so.
