A DECEPTIVE CASE OF LEPROSY

REPORT BY DR. WHITE  In August, 1907, a young woman from Courland, Russia, was referred to the skin department of the Massachusetts General Hospital for diagnosis. She had been treated one week previously in the "throat room" for "chronic rhinitis" and at her second visit blue-red papules had been discovered on her arm and she was consequently referred to us. The diagnosis of leprosy was made and subsequently corroborated by Dr. Richardson's pathologic findings and the girl was taken to the state leprosorium.A few days later the board of health of Brookline was informed by an anonymous letter that another leper was working as a servant at a certain residence in that town. The members of the board made an immediate investigation at the house mentioned, but found that the young woman in question had disappeared. Two days afterward this suspected individual presented herself voluntarily at the skin clinic