The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-30

Experiments recently conducted at
the kalihi Leper Receiving Station with
the fluid extract of the Jatropha Cos
sipifolio. the scientific name for the
Tua-Tua plant of Venezuela. more
commonly known as the anti-leprous
shrub" have given indications OF a
potent factor in the extract of the plant
which tends to alleviate the sufferings
of the lepers.
"A year ago the Department Of Ag-
riculture sent to DR.. Carmichael, Unit
ed States Marine Hospital Surgeon.
twenty-seven OF the Tua-Tua plants
which were set out in the Experiment
Station grounds on Makiki street. They
flourished, waxed green and produced
many buds. DR.. Carmichael reported
favorably upon the condition of the
shrubs and the matter was brought to
the attention of the Board of Health.
committee was to have been formed
for the purpose of investigating the
influences Of the poisonous extract OF
the shrub upon the lepers of Molokai,
but the plague epidemic interven-
ing. other and more important
work devolved upon the Board of
Health and no experiments were made.
With the shrubs came two bottles Of
the fluid extract and these were held at
the Board of Health laboratory uu.r
such time as they could ne used. In
July OF this year, DR.. c. L. Camp. 6s-
sistant in the archaeological laboratory
of the Health Department. commenced
some Interesting experiments at halihI
Receiving Station. Eight persons,
more or less afflicted with the disease
were taken as subjects and minute de-
tails of the results watched by the
physician.
None OF the cases showed the symp-
toms described in the experiments ms, ie
upon lepers in Venezuela There the
poisonous extract was said to haze
produced violent commissions in the
stomach of the patient. and was TO d
certain extent "kill-or-cure" method
of treating the disease. The doses were
large but according to a Catholic padre
who conducted an experiment upon hts
nephew, a leper, the experiment was
successful. The priest called the shrub
the "Frailejon Purge" on account Of
Its purging qualities. A minute de-
scription of the daily doses of the pois-
on limited to two ounces, formed an IN
teresting narrative in that the treat
ment was accompanied by horrible ef-
fects, such as violent commissions and
agonizing cramps; this was stated az
a part OF the cure-the more violent the
immediate effects the more PROMISING
the chances FOR cure. The young man
under this heroic treatment lost his
livid color, and many of the tubercles
diminished The dose in time was en-
larged. producing frightful pains,
abundant liberation and excessive Itch
Ing. Where the tubercles had dlmin-
ished the flesh hardened with the natu-
raj healthy color.
Such were the guiding points observ-
ed by DR.. Camp in his interesting ex-
periments at kalihi. In most of the
cases so treated there was little change
In their condition, either for the bet
ter or worse. There were none of the
physiological effects described IN the
experiments In Venezuela. No change
In the leprous eruptions were noted.
The case wherein DR.. Camp feels that
certain degree OF success was attain
ed was that Of man who had been In
leprous condition for ten years and
had eruptions all over his body. No
change was noticed In the man, who
was % years OF age, until about the end
or the second week. He was also suf-
fering from partial paralysis In his
right side. His arm was stiff. Soon a
change was observed In its movements.
He was able to move his own arm about
very slightly. DR.. Camp states that the
last time he saw the man he was able
to reach his right arm to his collar and
button 1t. The pains in his body and
legs had completely disappeared at the