MAKOGAI LEPERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 August 1939, Page 5

MAKOGAI LEPERS

APPEAL FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS DISTRESSING CASES. SUCCESS OF LATEST TREATMENT. An appeal for gifts for Christmas for the 577 lepers isolated on the lonely island of Makogai, Fiji, is made by Mr P. J. Twomey, hon. collector, Christchurch.

“If it were only possible for you to see the photographs sent me by the Government Medical Superintendent and also to read some of the pathetic letters written to me by the patients,” states Mr Twomey, “I am sure that you would then agree with me that these poor creatures are worthy of the kindest consideration. “Makogai is within four days sailing from Auckland. It is a little off the beaten track in the Fiji group and contains about 2,000 acres. Most of the island is rugged and mountainous ano’ covered with bush. As it was sufficiently isolated from the other islands Makogai was purchased by the Government of Fiji for a leper settlement There are 15 European nursing sisters on the staff and 11 native sisters. The present acting-medical superintendent Dr. W. G. McNaughton, and Sister M Fidelis, of the nursing staff are Nev Zealanders, while several New Zealanc girls have commenced their trainin; for this noble work.” TREATMENT. The treatment used today is based oi derivatives of chaulmoogra oil and i

beneficial in nearly all stages of leprosy. This oil has a most disagreeable taste. It is squirted into the mouth of the patients twice daily with a syringe and it is also deeply injected into the muscles once a week. A great deal of research is being carried on throughout the world and it is interesting to note that the most successful formula used at Molokai, Hawaii, is the work of a young negro chemist, Miss Alice Ball. The number of patients (31 last year) now being brought to a stage where they can be discharged is the best argument as to the value of this treatment. Every morning four sisters leave the compound on horseback to go to the dispensary in each village there to receive the patients and dress their wounds. Well over 90.000 dressings are carried out each year and it is necessary for some of the sisters to change their clothes as many as 12 times in one day. ADVANCED CASES. Most pitiable sights are witnessed in the hospitals. Men, women and children have their faces tumefied; their noses and lips are swollen and seem to weigh on their faces; their ears are excessively enlarged and sometimes touch their shoulders. Others, on the con.rary, are minus ears, noses, hands and feet' Death comes up little by little .rom the extremities to the centre of life. It sometimes happens that these poor souls burn themselves without mowing it. They fall asleep near a fire and a hand or foot burns without waking them. LEPER MOTHERS. Among the patients arriving at Makogai there are sometimes women who

are about to become mothers. As soon as the children are born they are taken away from their mothers and brought to the compound where one of the sisters takes care of them. Children born of leper parents, if they are taken away from their mothers at birth, are free from the disease. There have been about a dozen such little ones born at Makogai. About once a month the mothers come to the gate of the sisters’ quarters to see their little ones. It is. truly pathetic to see these poor women just about devouring their children with their eyes and not able to take them into their arms and caress them. GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS. Gifts for Christmas may be sent to Mr P. J. Twomey, care of the Christchurch Gas Company’s office, Worcester Street, Christchurch, and will be acknowledged by personal letter Donors are asked to send at least their address (and if possible the names also) so that they may be advised that their gifts have arrived safely. Dr. T. Fletcher Telford, M.D., J.P., is associated with Mr Twomey in this appeal as joint trustee for the lepers. Donations of money will enable the collectors to buy what would otherwise be in short supply. All the money is spent in New Zealand. The Post-master-General has kindly reduced charges to half rates on all parcels addressed to Mr Twomey for the lepers. The most suitable gifts are: —Dolls, games, bats, tennis racquets, etc.; silks, light materials, embroidery cottons, etc.; sweets, soap, tobacco, pipes. Owing to. the small demand for books and to the large supply already on hand, it has been found necessary to send only children's books this year.