Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-24
Cure For Le5rosy.


The claim chat lcprosy can be cured
and IS being cured is claim made by
Dr. lsadore Dyer and Dr. Ralph Hop
kns OF the Louisiana Lepcrs Home
located at q place called Indian Camp.
Three patients have already been dis
charged from this institution as cured
in spite Of the fact that the disease has
long been regarded as incurable.
The doctors in charge Of the home are
well known and highly respected in the
community The patients, who naturally
wish to have their names withheld from
the public. are a boy OF thirteen, woman
Of fifty and another woman Of thirty Ac-
cordiug to The statement Of the doctors,
there is not the least doubt either that
the patients were afflicted with the disease
or chat the cure is permanent and positive
In speaking Of the cures report which
has been recently published by the institu-
tion contains these statements; in this
section of the country the disease contin-
ues % spread as is evidenced by the recent
cases admitted to the home Almost every
one Of them shows evidence Of recent
outbreak, and It is well known that GER
tain centres Of original infection have not
as yet been investigated by the health
authorities. More than this, the recent
investigation has disclosed the fact that
owing 70 lax method Of discipline several
inmates 81 the home have absconded
thus spreading the trouble. In spite Of
this fact much has been done toward
ultimate stamping out Of the disease"
The report goes on to state that the
problem of the control of the disease has
but just begun in this country. The
Legislature is called upon 90 provide
certain measures for aiding the health
authorities and says:
1T has been shown that every Gulf
State has certain cases of disease. New
York and San Francisco have each of them
large number Of recognized cases from
time to time, and from time to time appli-
cations for admittanoe 10 the home are re-
ceived from these cities, showing the need
Of q national home for the reception Of
such persons suffering from the sickness.
"With the growing intercourse between
this country and the South and Central
American republics, tho likelihood Of ad-
ditional infection is increased The lepers
home in this State has at present no less
than eight cases, where there is no evi-
dence Of trouble save in the pigmentation,
or coloration, which exists in such cases
"In 1894 regular treatment Of such cases
was begun This consists Of ichthyol,
ehlorate Of potash, strychnine, salicylato
Of soda, chaulmoorga oil, arsenic and so
forth Since 1902 careful, systematic
treatment has been followed out with
marked results, as shown by the discharge
Of the three patients above referred to"
This information is Of the greatest
Importance in view Of the fact that leprosy
is on the increase in this and other ooun-
tries, according to statistics. Heretofore
the awful disease has been held 70 bo
incurablc, and the practice has been TO
eondne the victims in isolated and quar-
antined colonies, there 10 drag out hor-
riblo existence until death comes as a
merciiul and loving friend But now
there are reasons for hoping that a cure
for the awful aliiiction has At last been
found.
What a great blessing TO humanity il
will be il science has at last mastered this
terrible scourge cannot be described in
words,