MISSION TO LEPERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20961, 26 February 1930, Page 6

MISSION TO LEPERS.

ORGANISATION’S ACTIVITIES,

APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE;

A series of lectures on the work of the mission to lepers is at present being given in Dunedin by the Rev. P. A. Crawshaw, of Palmerston North, formerly a missionary in the Solbmon Islands, and now New Zealand secretary to the mission. In the course of the lectures given at Roslyn and North-East Valley Mr Crawshaw mentioned that there was no cbun try in the world which was immune froth this disease, and no class of person; There were at least three million lepers in the world to-day. The lecturer then went on to tell the history of the formation and founding of this world-wide mis sion in 1874 by a Presbyterian missionary named Wellesley Bailey. At the first the intention was to work only in India, but to-day the activities of the mission had extended to 18 different countries and to.loo different stations. The Anglican Primate of Ireland was the president of the mission, and the work was> carried on with the co-operation of no fewer than S 7 different Protestant missionary societies;’ It had become the handmaid of all the denominations as far as the work amongst lepers was concerned.

Mr showed very interesting slides illustrating how the mission to-day was supplying many of the lepers with shelter, food, medical treatment and Spiritual instruction. No fewer than 10.500 lepers and untainted children were being provided for, and in addition to this the mission was providing for spiritual instruction for lepers in 22 other leper institutions.

An interesting part of the lecture dealt with the new treatment. The treatment of leprosy by bynoqarpus or chaulmoogra oil had been known of for many years, but it was only of recent years that it had been possible for this oil to be used in a beneficial way. When taken by the mouth it had a very nauseating effect upon those who took it, and none would persevere with the taking of it in tins way. A little over 10 years ago after much experimenting with it a way wa; found of so treating the oil that today it could be infected into the muscles and under the skin of the sufferers, with, wonderful results. A disease such as leprosy, which took a long time to manifest itself and develop, would take, in the majority of oases, a long while to clear up. The treatment seldom lasted under six months, and sometimes extended ovei a period of a few years. The cost of the injection treatment alone was about £1 per annum per leper, and owing to of funds only about onc-quartf r of the inmates of the homos were rcceiv ing the treatment. Last year, as a result of the new treatment, no fevci than 245 lepers wore discharged from the homes in India alone,as being free from all symptoms of disease. The wonderful results that were being produced bad brought a message of hope to the 3.000,000 lepers of tlie world, but unfortunately the mission could. not oopo with the demands that were being made upon it for admission to the different homes. The missionaries. in charge wore daily turning lepers away because of there being no room for more.

Mr Crnwshnw made a strong mid an urgent- appeal for funds for the building of more homes so that more lepers might hSjye their chance or being cared for, pointing out that it cost £5 to keep a leper for one year. After shriwiug other interesting phases of the .vork, the lecturer concluded by showing pictures of mid telling of the work amongst tin children. It was pointed out that leprosy was hot hereditary, mid the children of lepers could be saved r ”om growing up to a living death. The mission had to-dfiy several hundred leper children in the various homes in different countries, mid about CIOD untainted children of lepers who had been taken away from their parents before they had contracted the disease.

Further lectures will he delivered by Mr Crawsbaw at the Kensington Presbyterian Church to-night and the Caversbam Baptist Church to-morrow night.