SCOURGE OF THE AGES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 November 1924, Page 7

SCOURGE OF THE AGES.

LEPROSY CASE CURED. SDQODSSE'UL TREATMENT AT ' QUAIL ISLAND. , CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 19. Leprosy, dread disease of the ages, the oldest disease known, to science, has been conquered. , It has suffered ; defeat ,iat the handsi iof the medical ■ officers of Quail Island leper station of New Zealand. Tim. Kakiri, a native of R&ratonga, who far two years has beep, a patient at the station, is to be released free froth all active signs of the disease. He is the first patient to have been discharged from the station for many years, and is the only inmate to. have been cured by the present system of treatment. It is his intention to become a missionary. Kokiri is a married man, aged 41, and is the father of two bonny girls, aged twelve and sixteen. Two years ago he was placed on the Island,' under the instructions of the Health Department. There was nothing unusual about his case from the point of view of the Department. Kokin, had already lost several fingers from the lower joint, and he was by no moans a happy man. However, Kokiri soon made rapid improvement under* the treatment administered. He was very popular among the other patients, and took an active interest in entertainment organisation for the benefit of his stricken comrades. He was a good singer, and always helped at the island concerts. Kokiri is a well-educated man, having for & number of years attended the Auckland Grammar School, and later St. Stephen’® School. Hi® cere-free nature served him well, and slowly the disease was arrested. The tests began to show negative results. . The treatment was continued, and a few days ago it was announced that Tim Kokiri was a cured man. This was greeted with much jubilation on the island. The announcement created fresh hope among the patients, and as for the lucky man himself, doubtless no. words could express his feeling®. The course of treatment was the same as ini Ithe other caises, the method having been generally adopted by the authorities 6ix years ago. The remedy is absolution of fatty esters of Chaulmoogra oil, in addition to sodium muriate and sodium hydrochlorate. Kokiri was a. victim of the mutilated type of leprosy, and beyond the loss of portions of his fingers, no other manifestation of the disease was evident to the obsei-ver. Hi® nasal mucus was free from the bacillus of leprosy for the greater part of his sojourn at' the leper station. Before the present system of treatment was introduced there were several less effective systems in use on the island, the one generally followed being the Mas-tin course. The present system, which provided for the injection of the remedies already mentioned, is the only one that has shown itself to consistently ameliorate the disease. “Yes, Tim Kokiri is the first patient to be released since the present system 1 has been in use.” ©aid D. T. F. Tel- ■ ford, district medical officer of health. “His discharge will doubtless give hope to the other patients. ’ ’ “The patient has quite recovered.'’ 1 said Archbishop Julius when app roach--1 eel on the matter.” He is to take up mission work among the Maoris in the ■ North Island, although when lie will ! leave I do not know. I am going to • the leper station this afternoon to confirm him.’’ 1 It is expected that, Tim Kokiri will U be discharged in the course of a week 5 or two.