GIRL CONTRACTS LEPROSY.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 14

GIRL CONTRACTS LEPROSY.

At a Fancy Dress Ball.

The startling case of a North London girl, who has contracted leprosy, contains elements of tragic interest. The dreadful disease was probably induced by the victim wearing, as part of a fancy costume, a wig of Eastern origin. Some time ago the girl, who was young and extremely pretty, went to a fftJAcy dress balj. The costume —that of a Chinese lady—was pronounced perfect in every detail. Unfortunately, the. wig she wore was only too real. It came from the East. A strange mark appeared on th** girl's forehead. She consulted her doctor, who at first treated her for eczema. The mark, however, showed no signs •jf improvement, and the doctor called in a specialist, who diagnosed the case as being one of leprosy, A rrangements were immediately made for the removal of the girl to a leper colony. Diligent inquiries have been maJo by the health authorities to discover the antecedents of the wig, as it i° believed that it must have been worn at one time by a leper.

Efforts a.re being made to trace all those who came into contact- with the girl at or since the ball, with a view to keeping them under strict observation and preventing the disease from ftpreading.