Island Lepers.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXI, 21 May 1904, Page 53

Island Lepers.

(From Our Owu Correspondent.) AITLTAKI, April 30. Not long back I drew attention to Dr. Mason's (the New Zealand Government Medical Officer) report upon these slands, and especially to that part where he urged that the Government medical officer residing nt Rarotonga should at frequent intervals visit the various other islands of this group. The importance of this is being almost daily brought home to us here. At the island of Penrhyn, as is well known, leprosy is very prevalent, but there is no one to see that proper- care is bestowed upon those suffering, nor to prevent communication between the sick and those free of the disease. There are many suffering from leprosy roaming "about the various villages of Penrhyn, and as they can freely visit the other islands the consequence is the disease is spreading among the other islands of the group, and it is now well established at Rakabanga and Manihiki. Captain Harries, of the auxiliary schooner Vaite, recently returned from a trip to Palmerston Island, and he reported to the New Zealand Government agent (Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon) that there were two cases there. They were isolated, but were without clothing, and very little attention was being paid to them. He provided the sufferers with some clothing from his trading stock. It is certainly time some firm steps were taken by the Government to check the spread of this foul disease. There is an island at Penrhyn set apart for the lepers, and the Government should collect all those suffering at the other islands and have them conveyed to this quarantine station. At the rate at which the disease is spreading there is danger of it reaching New' Zealand.