LEPERS AT DARWIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 May 1927, Page 5

LEPERS AT DARWIN

ESCAPE FROM ISLAND

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association)

SYDNEY, This Day.

The Rev. Mr Eddy, secretary to the mission to lepers, made serious allegations regarding the conditions at the leper lazaret at Darwin, where twelve men and women are segregated on a mud island away from all comfort and aid. 'No one visited, fed, or clothed them, and in the extremity of their suffering and despair nine of them swam to the mainland through shark and crocodile infested waters. One died in the bush, four were recaptured 200 miles from the scene of escape, and the others' were still wandering about, a menace to other people. He declared that under the application of modern research leprosy was fast losing much of its horror. It was well under control in Australia, which would soon perhaps be free of the disease.

Replying to the statement of one speaker that segregation of lepers was unnecessary, a doctor present said that experience of many years demonstrated that segregation was absolutely necessary to prevent the spread * of the disease.