The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-13
NEW CURE FOR LEPRosY.
Treatment Applied in Louisiana Said
10 be Certain of Results.

New orleans, May 5U.-Ine podfO VI
control of the State Home for Lep"i,s
h $ announced to Gov. Blanchard that
at last a positive cure for leprosy has
been found and that three patients at
ficted with the disease for years have
been discharged. All three cures have
been affected in the home, it was re-
ported, ane eleven others are on the
road to recovery.
The board not only announced that
the successful treatment had been dis
covered, but divulged the drugs en-
ployed-ichthyol, chlorate Of potash,
strychnine, salicylate Of soda, chaul-
moogra oil and arsenic. II detailed
also the other essential features, in
cluding daily hot baths, nourishlng
food and open air life, so physicians in
in all parts of the globe Immediately
might begin curing leprous patients.
A certain cure for consumption
alone could rival the importance Of
that for leprosy, and that only because
the white plague affects a much larger
number OF persons than does the older
scourge. Leprosy for thousands OF
years has been regarded as incurable,.
The board Of the Lepers' Home
withheld its report until certain not
only that leprosy could be cured, but
that the disease could be arrested at
any stage. Tt knew two years ago that
cures could be achieved in certain
cases, but, determining to avoid rails
ing false hopes, waited until the
treatment has been tested by patients
of all ages and degrees Of the sco1rge.
The three patients discharged as cured
ranged in age from 13 to so years.
In addition, the board waited until
the medical men of the institution said
they had arrested eight other cases
showing the symptom save pignenta..
ton and three cases in which the de-
st-uction Of flesh and bone already had
set in when treatment was begun.
."The first case," the rep'~t to Gov.
Blanchard says, s'was that Of a boy, Is
years old, admitted in October 1902.
He was discharged on December 1,
1904, as cured. and has been kept un.-
Ger observation since. There has been
no return of any evidence Of the dis
ease. The second case was that of {.
woman so years old, admitted on
August 10, 1900, and discharged or!
December IS, 1905, as cured. The
third case was Of woman, 80 years
old, admitted on June 2, 1904. she
was discharged as cured on April 25,
1906"
AS to the patients still in the home,
the report says:
."There are eight with whom the
disease has been arrested with no ac-
tive LESSONS and no evidence of the
scourge, excepting fermentation;
there are three with whom the disease
has been arrested, with evidence Of
former destruction. Of those with the
arrested type at least six are being
kept under observation with the view
Of their being discharged after a rea-
sonable period Of freedom from the
plague
Regarding the treatment which has
brought about the remarkable condi-
tions, the report says:
I'm 1894 regular and systematic
treatment was established, comprising
ichthyol, chlorate Of potash, strych-
nine, salicylate Of soda, chaulmoogra
oil, arsenic, etc. Since 1902 systemat-
ic treatment has been followed and
with marked results. The best have
seemed to follow the treatment with
chaulmoogra oil and strychnine, and
the three patients discharged as cured
all followed that treatment thorough
ly.
"The method of treatment is one Of
nutrition. If a resistance can be es-
tablished III the patient the disease
will disappear. Leprosy is recognized
by US as bacillary disease and one
on which the tissues Of the person af-
flicted are used as feeding ground.
Any medicine or treatment, hygiene or
habit, which will change the tissues
into food the bacilh cannot feed upon
will help the patient to a logical re-
sistance. All patients are required to
take daily hot baths and to eat plenty
of wholesome food, without respect to
its being fish, flesh or fowl or vegeta-
bic. and additionally it is required that
they shall spend as much time as pos
sible in the open air and sunshine"
DR.. Hopkins, visiting physician to
the home, and DR.. Isador Over. con-