The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-10-04
Alleged Cure for I.sprOsy.

A despatch has been received from the Socrs-
tary Of State for the Colonies tsays the Ausira-
aISfa1') forwarding copies Of sorrespondeRce dalE
ing from September 1865 to November 1870.
upon a subject Of great inieFest-the alleged dis
eovery of an eiFectual remedy for the diseases Of
leprOsy, as now paeticed in Venzuela. West
Indies.
It appears that in July. 1868, Dr. Bakeweil, =
medical practitioner at Trinidad, heard that
brother practitioner at Camana. Vsnzaela.-Dr
L D. Beauperthuy, possessing the diploma Of a
doctor Of medicine from the University Of Paris
had discovered a cure for leprOsy and was using
it with success DR.. Beauperthuy had been set
tied in yenzueIa about thirty years, and during
the whole time had been engaged in tie invesii-
CATION and study Of k,fse=y and other diseases
peculiar to the tropics DR.. BaksRell went to
Cumaua and saw the remedy in operation. He
was slightly prejudced against ii at first because
the nature Of the remedy was kept secret for .
time the ground, as It afterwards appeared.
that some portions Of it had not been thoroughly
tested. He saw the remedy work successfully in
four cases. An elaborate report was furnished to
the home government, who placed it before tho
Royal College Of Physicians. The college recon-
mended fuller details and more exact information.
A second report was made, and in the meantime
Dr. BakeWell paid visit to London. having also
tried the remedy himself Aher considerable
correspondence and more reports. the College Of
Physicians advised that the inquiry should Be
still further prosecuted and in the presence Of q
competent and at the sane time thoroughly dis
interested practitioner. The stage at which the
matter had arrived when the last letter was writ
ten, in November last, was that the home govern
ment were making arrangements for the proseca-
ton OF al inquiry in the manner suggested By
the college. Dr. Gavin Milroy was the gentle
man whom the College of Physicians had recon-
mended.
The remedy and method Of treaimeat are Civ
en- by Dr.. Bakewell as follows:
l. A nOurishing aud abundant diet; salt fish
or meat and pork ara prohibited ansiraly. --.s
are spirits; ligh. wine (BOrdeaux) is allowed IA
moderation to those accustomed to il Fresh
meat shOuld be given every day.
q The patient should 1--we in as healthy =
locality as possible.
3. Internal remedies varying according to the
condition Of the patient. The principal one, BIZ
chloride Of mercury, or corrosive subIimate. in
doses OF ons-hfteenta Of a grain twice a day
The effect Of alkalies is being also tried.
4 To remove the tubercies and promote ezu-
dation, the oil Of easheH-nat buis acqjou) OBJ
tanned By the spontanso1s evaporation Of an al
eOhOIic tincture Of the nut, which must be ven
pounded in a stone or wooden mortar before
being exposed to the action Of alcohol This is
a most valuable application. acting alosly bat
powerfully.
5 A strong solution Of nitrate Of silver aud
copper, made By dissolving silver coin in strong
nitric acid, and mixing TIE nitrate thus obtained
zith an equal bulk Of distilled water
g. Fhetions over the whole body night and
morning With cocoanut OH
T. A bath with soap and water, taken before
the frietious.
In a report dated May p. 1870. Dr. BaseEen
stated that having observed the effects ofDr Beau
Perthay's treatment for more than ysar and a
half in thiriy-eight cases, during which be was
either Pretieing il himself CT seeing il praeiced
By Dr.. Beauperthuy for eight months aud a bali,
be had come to the following conclusions:
Taat with rare exceptions, the treatment would
entirely remove all external appearances or Gsp-
Fosy and restore ssnsibiiity 70 auesthetc parts ia
eases that had commenced within tso years pss-
eeding the commencement af treatment, where
the disease had no. attacked the m6ath o. lagynx-
In such eases all symptoms ceased for az 1seer-
tain period. in GO case less than eight nonlhs-
In some eases the cure had been permanent for
three ysarE In some casss. where q eoaplsts
removal vas obviously impossible or rot yet OBJ
taioed, great improvement had taken placa b7
the diminiiion of the amount of the taherrlss.
restoration Of ssnsibi!ity and power Of notion,
etc. AZ kr az be had Observed, tie improve
E'sn. was solely due 70 the regimen, tie baths
and The external applications; the bi-ehlon5s Of
meprTry having nothing 70 do with t. Unis1s
external manifestations Of the disease zsrs thor
oughly removed, aud ne patients couid continue
for long period % follow the sane regimen,
diet, etc. ~ drring their treatment. thsy zould,
ia the large majority of ezsss rsiapss, s=sn A.
fk0agh Temporarily cured. EeTsrthsless. he To-
bsreiss we're really cured and the skin restored,
tbou4h bat foF tine, % . healthy eoodilssn.
he seton q lie oil vas not that Of eau.tie.
simply dssuoyifg forsign groHtk Tiers vas
10 sezi-Ish Tas sciioa nat took plaes ia fbs
tuberelss -rsa yfisl rof ef.rrfcaf