GREAT MEDICAL DISCOVERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 145, 28 September 1910, Page 2

GREAT MEDICAL DISCOVERY.

LEPROSY CURIf SUCCESSFUL IN DEMERARA. A correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette writes on June 28:— "Leprosy, that scourge of tropical countries, is slowly losing ground. Years, possibly generations, may elapse ere the final conquest is attained, but a beginning has been made, and the disease, so long the terror of mankind, is not now the despair of the medical world." The dawn of a brighter day has bees hastened by the discovery and experiments made by Professor Deycke, of Hamburg. This distinguished investigator, whose work is attracting increased attention, has invented the "Nastin" treatment of the disease. This treatment consists of the sub-cutaneous injection of nastin—a bacterial fatty body in oily solution combined with benzoyl chloride. The effect is to destroy the bacilli of leprosy. At the Bombay Medical Congress last year it was reported by Captain Beauchamp Williams, Residency Surgeon in the Persian Gulf, that some cases which he had treated by this method appeared to justify Professor Deycke in his claims. The announcement is now made that the Governor of British Guiana has authorised the discharge from the Leper Asylum of that, colony, as completely cured, of a negro who had undergone* the Nastin treatment. ■ This man came under flie personal attention of Professor Deycke, who, with the cordial approval of the Colonial Office, spent five months in British Guiana last year, the Leper Asylum being' placed at his disposal for experimental purposes. The institution contains upwards of 400 lepers, ILL of whom (69 male and 42 female) were treated by the Professor. The injections, which are practically painless, are performed once a week for three months; they are thep suspended for a like period; recommenced ,for two months; again discontinued for three months, and then resumed for, a similar period. In 103 cases, the Professor observed, 92.79 per cent, had improved.. He has placed it on record that in.' a period of .treatment covering only three to three and a-half months no definite results could possibly be attained. In such a chronic disease as it, is absolutely necessary, he says, to -continue the treatment at intervals for several years. Results vary, the difference depending not only on the age and severity of the disease, but also on the individual condition of the patient. ; He further states: "I do not doubt that if the cases of nervous leprosy are treated early enough, and with the necessary experienced care with nastin, a large number of these unfortunate- human beings may be preserved from mutilation and other severe lesions: I even believe that after a longer treatment with nastin not a few of the nervous patients can 'be restored to the human community." After the departure of Professor Deycke from British Guiana, the treatment continued by the medical superintendent of the Leper Asylum. The man wjhose cure is now reported was under treatment for. sixteen months. He is described as free from all signs of leprosy, his symptoms—black marks on the face and swelling of fingers and earshaving disappeared. The news of this cure will send a message of hope to all tropical countries, and increase public and professional confidence in Professor Deycke'a discovery.