CURE OF LEPROSY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1921, Page 1

CURE OF LEPROSY.

[ BV TEI.KGRAPII — l*Ell PRESS ASSOCIATION |

AUCKLAND, Jan. 7. The lining of lepers was the subject of some remarks by Dr V. G. Hciser, of the United States Health Depat tment, wlio arrived in Auckland from Vancouver by the Makura yesterday. Dr lleiser for a considerable period w.t officer in charge of the Department oi Public Health in the Philippines, and has devoted a great deal of time to 'ho study of leprosy. He is now 1011vinccd that a cure for this disease has been discovered in the form of one of the esters which have been isolated from Chaulmoogra oil. Dr Hciser stated that he had just examined 13. lepers at Hawaii, and had found the whole of them improving very rapidly. He said it. was not too much to hope that from 25 per cent to 30 per cent of these would be permanently cured by this treatment.

“Cliaulmoogra oil,” said Dr Hciser, “has been known for hundreds of years, but tlie drawback heretofore was that it vitiated those who took it, and the problem was to M Clio essential properties of the oil that would do good in leprosy eases. Those connected with chemistry all over fhe world have been experimenting with n view to solving the problem. Latterly American chemists have taken the matter up at Honolulu, and as 1 have indicated, with most wonderful results. The oil was used hypodermically, and this cured a great nilmher of patients.” Dr Hesier said lie had made a study of this disease in India in company with Sir Leon Rogers, and they had' succeeded in isolating the substance in the oil which cured even a larger proportion of lepers than had been anticipated. “It is one of the most exalting efleets of modern medicine,” said Dr Hcsici, “that the leper has something hopeful to look forward to. It is possibly not too much to say that all those who suffer from leprosy can have the ( |‘|’ easc ' arrested. Hy that I mean it will not he able to progress. When we recn the fact that this disease has bun buff, jug mankind since hihlual tunes. ; t is verv encouraging that model science lias at last found a way which holds out so innch hope.