LEPROSY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 98, 11 September 1912, Page 5

LEPROSY.

IX THE COOK JSLAXDS. A SHOCKING REPORT. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Last Night. The awful condition of affairs in the Cook Islands in regard to leprosy is shown by the report of the Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Percival). He says, inter alia: "At the present moment no one can tell how far leprosy has spread in the Cook Islands, hut I can say—for I have seen it myself—that it is therte to a considerable extent, and the manner in which the lepers now live is nothing; short of disgraceful. The number of lepers, however, is not sufficient for it to .be assumed that leprosy is of indigenous origin. It has evidently been imported in comparatively recent years, and steps should "be at once taken to prevent it becoming epidemic. it is unnecessary for me to dwell upon the loathsome features of this terrible disease, but I may say that I have visited the known lepers of the Cook Islands. These have .been isolated as far as possible, and it can only be characterised as a most painful and revolting sight. The fact that our islands are liable to .a similar increase, as was experienced in the .Sandwich Islands and New Caledonia. unless something is done to arrest the disease at once makes it unnecessary for me to say more than that it is of the most vital importance that the matter be tackled without any delay whatever. Leprosy is rife on every island except Raratonga. I myself know of thirtyseven or thirty-eight cases, fifteen in Penrhyn, five in Rakahanga, six in Manihiki, three in Pukapuka, three in Palmerston, three in Aitutaki, one in Mangaia and one in Mitiaro (a suspect). But tlje natives hide these easK so that in all probability there are many more. These cases consist of the tubercular nodular form, and one of nerve degeneration. I cannot in this report go into the heredity and contagiousness of this disease, but draw your attention to the fact that all contagious diseases demand certain conditions for their diffusion. In some these conditions are readily complied with. In others they are complied with with great difficulty, and perhaps rarely occur. Leprosy, 'n my opinion, belongs to the latter class. I would strongly advise that in the interests of the patients, in the interests of the inhabitants, and having regard to the fruit trade, that all these cases should be collected by a Government vessel and isolated at Penrhyn; that the children of leprous parents should be removed from thoir leprous surroundings; and that the voluntary isolation of lepers in colonies on the island should be encouraged in countries where leprosy fors a chief centre. Isolation is the best means of preventing and controlling the disease. As the leper patients are now situated, the situation is distressing in the extreme. They have no fresh water for washing, no soap and no change of garments. Filth predominates and complaints were made to me in Penrhyn that the man in charge (not efficient) appropriated most of the rations, and that at Rakahanga they had not sufficient food, and their relatives would not give them any. The same applied to Manihiki. At Penrhyn the native huts were not at all suitably kept. Rations should be allowed of flour, tea, biscuits, sugar, beef and soap to supplement 'their native diet of cocoanuts and fish. The island for the lepers at Aitutaki is too close to the mainland, as there is frequent communication by other natives. Water there is an urgent need. All they have is that taken to tliem once a week from the main island, and sometimes from stress of weather a delay of several days occurs. The same want of cleanliness applies there also. At Palmerston the position of the two boys is more disgraceful. They were placed on a bare sandbank without shade or water, by the order of Mr. Ha!!, R.M.S.. on account of Hie infectious and contagious nature of the disease to an adjoining island, upon which a suspect had been placed, and which I found to bo leprous. T ordered these two boys to be at once removed. They complained bitterly of the way they had been treated by the people of Palmerston in refusing them food or water from their canoes in passing, and they had to wait a day or longer before it was brougnt to them. These statements were made in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Paraes, of the London Missionary Society, as well as myself, on the occasion of the recent visit."