[Infectious nature of leprosy, by Juan de Azúa]. / Contagiosidad de la lepra, por Juan de Azúa.

ABSTRACT

In this article by Juan de Azua, published in the second issue of Actas Dermosifiliográficas in 1909, the author reports his experience in 139 patients, most of them from Hospital San Juan de Dios, Madrid,Spain, and states he is sure that leprosy is a contagious disease. He discusses the factors related to contagion,which occurs in a closed and family environment, emphasizing socioeconomic factors such as hygiene and promiscuity. He considers direct contact to be important, though also recognizing indirect contact through drinks and food; he totally rejects a hereditary mechanism. Epidemiologically, he draws attention to the higher prevalence of the disease in Andalusia, though not forgetting "La Lepra de Ultramar [leprosy from distant lands]"-32 cases in Spaniards in Cuba and the Philippines. He believes isolation in hospitals or special sanatoriums, such as San Juan de Dios or San Lázaro in Santiago, Granada, and Seville, to be the best prophylaxis, and he considers it would be appropriate to create "Hospitals for poor lepers".