CURED OF LEPROSY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 317, 2 October 1908, Page 8

CURED OF LEPROSY.

MAORI PATIENT LEAVES QUAIL ISLAND. (BI TELEGEArn —PHISS ASSOCIATION.). < Christchurch, October 1. After spending close on eleven months on .Quail Island, 0110 of the patients at the leper station, a young Maori, has been discharged as cured, and left for his home and friends in the interior of the North Island. : . Dr. Mason informed a "Press" reporter that the Maori had been cured of his malady' by tlio nastin treatment, which the doctor explained had been introduced some time back by Professor Doycko Pasha, of Constantinople, where ho is in charge of. a leprosy institute. The .treatment, which consists of an injection of a culture of the bacillus of leprosy, which acts in much the same way as tuberculin, has been followed with considerable success. Dr. Mason, who had been in communication with Professor Do.vcke, applied the nastin treatment to tho patients isolated on Quail Island with very satisfactory results. The Maori has now been discharged as cured; although the disease has left_ its mark on his hands and feet. The white man, who has now been on tho island for over two years, has benefited very greatly by . the treatment, and shows a wonderful improvement in his condition. Drs. Finch, TJpham, and Pomare went to the island to bring the'discharged patient across to Lyttelton. He was required to leave all his belongings behind him, and a complete new outfit of clothes was supplied him. When informed on Tuesday that he was to be allowed to return home his joy knew 110 bounds, and ho scarcely slept during tho night. With grim humour he painted on the outside of the little cottage which ha has occupied for eleven months tho words "To let." With laughing face he left his little house without regret, after wishing the other two poor fellows goodbyo, and ran and skipped on his way to tho launch, turning every minute to wave his hat or handkerchief to them. He expressed himself as deeply grateful for. the many gifts of gramaphone records and books, periodicals, and newspapers sent by various donors for the amusement of himself and follow patients..