LEPROSY RIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1935, Page 2

LEPROSY RIFE

AMONG AUSTRALIAN NATIVES. DISCLOSURES MADE BY DOCTOR. SYNDEY, July 7. Inactivity in combating leprosy among aborigines, in North-west Australia was criticised by Dr Bryou, district medical officer at Derby, betorc a Parliamentary party visiting that region. “The position is so serious that i have come to regard every native., as a leper until he is definitely proved to be free from disease,’’' Dr By ion said. . The doctor quoted cases wliq/re leprous natives had been engaged cooking and doing housework and .washing on cattle stations.. Native leper patients were increasing, and the danger of the disease spreading was not appreciated by people of the district, lie said. That morning lie had discovered in the local gaol a man who had escaped from Broome lock-up suffering from the early stages of leprosy. The disease had. been definitely diagnosed in the district for at least 12 years and had been regarded as 'existing as long ago as 20 years. The Royal Commissioner, Air Moseley, had sent the Government an interim report last year directing attention to the calamitous conditions. Yet nothing had been done to remedy the position.

“People refuse to recognise that the disease exists, or they hold on to the wrong belief that white people do not get leprosy .-.Last year about 40 cases of suspected leprosy were sent from the district to Darwin, where they were definitely diagnosed as lepers,” Dr Byron added. “I have not had much ■opportunity to investigate the position thoroughly, but I am confident that a number of white lepers would be found in the district. 'With their contact with leprous natives over a number of years they could baldly avoid it.”

Dr Byron said lie thought the people were disinclined to accept the position because most' of the eases were not of an ••'advanc'd type, hut. worse, would follow, and by that time the disease would be past prevention, and would become a scourge. One morning lie had evamined eight natives.-whin come into Derby with .mobs of cattle, lie. said.

Of the eight four were found to.be lepers. Two. native--women who were dikgiiosdf afi'iepbrs had been - cooking for people on the station from which the cattle had come. At the 1- <"-aret the Parliamentary party was told that 15 lepers had been taken from one station. Almost every native examined was a leper or suspected leper, and Dr Byron said that there must be hundreds inland who had never been examined.