LEPROSY CASES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1938, Page 5

LEPROSY CASES

SEARCH TO BE MADE. ’.Per Press Association— (Copyright). AUCKLAN&, Sep. 20. Bound for Suva to join a. chartered schooner,; and visit outlying islands and Samoa to seek out cases’ of-lcprosy, Dr ■B. P. ..Elisiih; C.'M.G;y’ of Vthe Cook Islands health service, arrived at Auckland by the Matua to-day.

This is- the fourth systematic combing of-...tlil>:islands "for leprosy.-' first was in 1926, the second in 1928, and the third in 1935. The last immediately followed the hurricane, and yielded 35 patients, an unusually high total. ' It is riot expected that the present search will produce so many. . The. lepers will be left at Suva for transfer to the leper colony. When they know the medical officer and assistants are hunting for them the natives, take to the bush, and sometimes have to be taken by force. -There is a chance that they become violent; which led Dr. Ellison. to. reiriark, “I will probably return, here in November, if I, don’t get cracked over the head by. one of ; the lepers.”: ■•' • .•*• V

;fDr Ellison said that the measles npt denmic in the Cook Islands, was now .in its final phase. Nearly 700 cases had been dealt with At Rarotonga, but there were now only about 12 convalescing in the last remaining field hospital. The : medical and' nursing; staff had two months’ hard struggle. Superstition and witch doctory had to he combated,' also .the native .attitude to disease. .• They would get under a tap, or into the sea, so that the cold; water would cool them, thus laying themselves open to complications. • . -