TREATMENT OF LEPROSY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 7

TREATMENT OF LEPROSY.

4 A CURE REPORTED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Sydney, Juno 13. A definite cure for leprosy is reported from Honolulu, where tho disease is being overcome. It consists of the application of carbon dioxide snow to the leprous lesions. The extreme cold apparently freezes the bacilli. REPORTED CURE DOUBTED. Carbon dioxide gas is reduced to a liquid by high pressure and cold, and is obtained as a solid while substance by means of the intense cold produced by the sudden expansion of the liquid when allowed to escape from pressure. It has been used experimentally ill the treatment of a largo number of diseases with varying success. A local medical man, to whom the above cable message was referred, said he had not heard before of tlie use of carbon dioxide snow in leprosy, and he felt much inclined to doubt the success claimed for it. In New Zealand the Health Department has been experimenting with the Nastin treatment, tho discovery of a Viennese professor of that name, and which is stated to consist of an injection of a culture of the bacillus of leprosy. The results obtained by this method have been sufficiently promising to warrant further investigation. Leprosy is especially prevalent in the Hawaiian Islands, and it was on the island of Molokai that Father Damien, the heroic Roman Catholic missionary, devoted his life to the troatment of tho lepers in tho Government _ hospital, and succumbed to the disease in 18S9. Tho international congress in leprosy in 1909 included the following among its resolutions:—Tho clinical study of leprosy induces tho belief that it is not incurable. Wo do not at present possess a certain remedy. It. is desirable, therefore, to continue the search for a specific remedy." The British delegates at tho same congress unanimously agreed:—(l) Leprosy is sproad by direct and indire'et contagion from persons suffering from the disease. The possibility that indirect contagion may be effected by fleas, bugs, lice, tho itch parasite, etc., has to be borne in mind. Leprosy is most prevalent under conditions of personal and domestic uncleanlinoss and overcrowding, especially wliero there is close and protracted association between the leprous and nonleprous. (2) Leprosy is not due to tho eating of any particular food, such as fish. (3) There is no evidence that leprosy is hereditary; the occurrence of several cases in a single family is due to contagion.