AWAY WITH LEPROSY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4667, 27 February 1924, Page 2

AWAY WITH LEPROSY.

ELIMINATING THE DISEASE. A campaign was launched at the end of January having as its object the elimination of leprosy in the British Empire during the next three decades. An organisation has been formed known as the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association. This has for its patron His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The vice-presidents are the Secretary of State for Foreign ~ Affairs, the Colonial Secretary, the ’ Secretary for India, the Viceroy- of India, and the Governor-General of New Zealand. The chairman of the general committee is the Bight Hon. J Viscount Chelmsford, and at. a meeting recently held it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Viscount * Chelmsford, to ask Sir James Allen to : become a member of the General Com- ■ mitlee.' The High Commissioner has now replied consenting to his elee- » tion. ‘

The association is facing the fact that there are more lepers in the British Empire than under any other flag. For India 200.000 is said to be a moderate estimate. The British tropical African colonies, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanganyika, and Nyassaland probably have from 70,000 to 80,000'cases. The disease pre-* '' vails in varying degrees in South Africa, the West Indies, Ceylon, the Malay States, Mauritius!, Malta, and Cyprus. Altogether it is estimated that there are considerably more than f. 00,000 lepers in- the King’s Do- ■ minions.

in the light of recent results of research. the elimination of leprosy is practicable. Though contagious it is not hereditary, and rf the right steps are taken now it is considered that the disease can be stamped out in the course of not more than 30 yearsUnder the improved method of curative treatment now available, hundreds of lepers are recovering, 'and the treatments give real hope of recovery for all cases in which- they are applied if taken in time. Owing to lack of funds, however only a small propol tion even of those in homes pr asylums are receiving the curative treatment, which is the inje'etion into the veins of certain salts obtained from chaulmoogra oil. <

At least £250,000 will be needed if the campaign is to be effective in the fullest sense. The work of the asso-' elation will mainly be to help lepers * in the Empire by providing the latest treatment for all, and homes for those who are homeless and destitute; to supply the latest medical information and the most improved drugs to leper institutions : to support sound schemes of segregation : and to sup- . port, further researches on both the etiology and treatment u£ leprosy, with a view to discovering more efficient methods of prevention, to further simplify, shorten, and cheapen , the curative measures. Th? importance of such research is enhanced materially by the fact that there are already indications that leprosy investigations may possibly lead to improved treatment of tuberculosis, duo to a closely allied bacillus. ?