LEPROSY.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1922, Page 4

LEPROSY.

THE LATEST ABOUT IT.

(W. J. Eddy, Australian Secretary Mis-

sion to Lepers.)

History is being made so rapidly in tile treatment of leprosy that what appeared in these columns two years ago is almost out, of date. The object of this article is to detail the latest eonelusions about it, and the remarkable success attending its treatment. Leprosy is caused by a germ known as the lepra bacillus, which was discovered in j 1874. It may be stated at the outset that there is some relation between j leprosy and syphilis, but the casual organisms are different, and any connection is not due to identity between the two. On the other hand, leprosy and tubercle arc closely related. The eerms of the two respond to the same colour tests, and' the two diseases yield jto similar methods of treatment. To I tnis we will return in closing tins ar- ' tide. The mucous membrane of the nose, especially the front part of it, is commonly the site of the primary lesions of leprosy. Wherever else the bacillus is found, in from 50 to 80 per I cent it is revealed in the nose. Hence, | in examining a patient for the presence | of the germ, a smear from the nose is taken rather than a sample of the blood. ' And on this account the leper at large is such a menace to the community, for by sneezing or blowing his nose he may discharge quantities of germs for others to pick up. Because of this the Gov- ! eminents in India have determined upj on the segregation of the pauper lepI ers, of whom there are 5000 in Bengal alone, 1000 of whonie are beggars in the streets of Calcutta; and the first colony has been started in the Boukura district, in winch they will be compulsorily segregated.

Apart from other methods public interest will be taken specially in the modern therapeutic treatment of leprosy. In the use of vaccines littl«t has been done up to the present, The greatest progress lias been made by the use of certain vegetable oils, such as cliaiilmoogra, hydnocarpus, eodhver, and soya bean oils. Cliaiilmoogra oil is the one remedy which for many years I has justified the faith that scientists i have placed in it. This oil is obtained ! from the seeds of certain trees indigenous to India, Assam,, and Siam, chiefly tnrnktogeiios kurzel, and several species of hypnoenrpu's. Its curative properties have long been known to the natives of India, but it lias a horrible taste. Some lepers have said: “Oh, dixit or, we would rather have leprosy than take that stufr.” And it produces gastric troubles. Dr Heiser blended it wii.i camphorated oil and resorcin, and injected it into the muscles. Tins treatment produced good results when porservcil with, but it is rather painful the reactions are slow, and the patients were not patient enough to go through with it. Then Sir Leonard B„g o rs, late of Calcutta, and lion, physician of the Mission to Lepers, obtained the active principle of the oil. certain fatty acids, which lie named Hydnocarpate of Sodium. This was injected directly into the blood, and administered. in tablet form, Through the mouth. This treatment was reported upon at the Calcutta Leprosy Conference in 1020. It had been tested all over India in 18 asylums, under the oversight of the Mission to Lepers, and 72 pc” cent of the eases treated

were making satisfactory progress. Since that time in the Haiwaiian Islands Dr Deane and others have carried the experiments farther, niid prepared ethyl esters from the oil. These with iodine, are injected into the muscles, with remarkably good results. At one institution, Kualihi, 01 "ore discharged on parole in a hunch, and "lien the gates were Hung open, and 'the patients met their waiting friends, all joined in the Doxology! And this took place not far from Molokai, where Father Damien lived his heroic life and filled a leper’s grave—not in vain! Kualihi is now a receiving station, where newcomers are subjected to this new treatment, and it is rarely that a ease is sent on to the Molokai Settlement. There is one point to bo noted just lie re. The word “cured” must bo used cautiously in respect to lepers. But they have lx'oome “ hneteriologieallv negative,” i. 0., after many tests there is not a trace of the bacillus in the system, and they may safely ho discharged. The disease may assert itself again, hut it may not. Meanwhile in Calcutta, Dr K. Muir has succeeded Sir L. Rogers, anil is using a solution which lie calls E.C.C.0., consisting of

-. the Ethylcsters of ehaulmoogra oil, cre- ' sole, camphor, and olive oil, and lie ' finds this preparation more effective than any other. lint it will readily he j realised that such a finished product of tile chemist’s art is expensive, and almost prohibitive, when one thinks of over a million lepers who still need treatment. Ilence the success in Korea of a simpler form of the remedy is hailed with delight. Tt consists of ehaulmoogra oil again, in 1G ounces of which 100 grains of camphor is l dissolved, and this is injected into the muscles, and has proved very effective. Here you have a remedy that is economical, easily prepared, and can bo administered hy others than exports. Indeed, there is some talk of establishing clinics throughout the country for the treatment of 30,000 lepers in Korea, for whom hospital accommodation is not yet available. Dr Wilson —of Kowangiu reports enthusiastically about this treatment in his asylum. He informs us that lepers who not long since were helpless, and had to lie waited upon by others, now perform splendid industrial work. They have been taught to make bricks and tiles, and have erected a two storied building to accommodate GO, at a cost of £220, which otherwise would lmvo cost £550. “In the second floor,” says Dr Wilson, wo use the Japanese method of sleeping on thick mats, and the lepers can make all matting for this purpose. They are taught weaving, and make all the cloth used in the place, saving £llO a year.” Rome of the brightest are selected for medical work. “Now,” writes the doctor, “they do all the minor operations, the simple laboratory and dispensing work, and I attend only to the special and difficult cases.” In addition, they do carpentry, make baskets, brooms, bowls, knives, etc., and raise their own vegetables. “About 15 of the best men have been taught for years in our various Bible classes,

and now do most of the Bible teaching in the homes, and are the leaders in the leper church. The whole place is so organised that it runs almost automatically.” It goes without saying that nothing is made for sale, hut only for use in the settlement. And the lepers are happier and healthier because of this industrial work. What a triumph for medical science aud~Cliristian philanthrophy. A new day lias dawned for the lepers of the world. And if the-money were forthcoming, and the co-operation of those in authority and the people generally were secured, it is estimated that in 50 years leprosy would virtually be a thing of the past, | It is well for Australians to remember tnat the remedies thus perfected are available for and used in the lazarettos of the Commonwealth, and with success, and, moreover, by fighting leprosy 1 where it is rampant, our brave doctors and missionaries are safeguarding Australia from its attacks. In closing, wc revert to the matter referred to at the start, viz., the relation of leprosy to tubeculosis. Sir I Leonard Rogers, who brought the treatment of leprosy to a high state of perfection in Calcutta, has gone, for health reasons, to London. When the writer saw him in Calcutta lie said be hoped to specialise in tubercle along the same lines of research', for eodliver oil is to consumption what ehaulmoogra nil is to leprosy. Tri a. letter received a few days ago Sir Leonard says; —“ I am now doing research work at the treatment of tuberculosis on tbo same lines arid have already got sonic favourable results, and am devoting all my spare time to this work, and to writing up the leprosy subject with Dr Muir.” Therefore, whatever claims may ho made lor other remedies for tuberculosis, some of us are pinning out faith to the perfecting of this remedy. And we may well hope that the patience and skill of experts will yet conquer the great white plague. And it may bo that in order to do this a policy of segregation as well as of effective treatment will have to be adopted.