The Washington herald., 1907-01-02
X-RAY AS A LEPROSY CURE
Marvellous Discovery Made by Amer
lean Doctors.
Relief Likely TO BE Found for Thou
sands of UnfOFtunates in Hawaii
and the Philippines.

The X-ray has been found TO have an
unsupported efficacy as a cure for leprosy.
Official advices received at the War De-
partment from Manila confirm brief state
ments made in a previous report to that
effect. From the time Of the first OccUpa-
ton Of the Philippines by the United
States forces there has been continual
concern over the prevalence Of leprosy-
Under the Spanish regime no check what
ever was made on the spread of the loath-
some disease. and when the provisional
government entered on the work Of sani-
tation and health reform there was hardly
a community in the islands that had not
several cases Of leprosy. Some COMPARE
son between the Spanish method and the
American may be had when it is said that
the Spaniards spent for this work
in Manila but 5000 pesos a year. while the
present American government is spending
$4,000 a year on this account.
Several months ago the American doc
tors at the san Lazaro hospital at Ma
Mia decided TO begin Il series Of expert
men;s on lepers. An X-ray plant of linn
tied efficiency and moderate cost was
available and the hospital staff Sc
lected a score Of patients from the many
known 10 them and placed them under
regular treatment. The plan was TO keep
them for period Of six months and note
what progress was made. To their sur
prise the X-ray proved 10 have a wonder
fuI effect on the disease. and the subjects
began to assume a degree Of health wholly
new and surprising The good work at
this point. however, was subject TO the
casualty that not infrequently occurs 10
scientists working at such a long distance
from the centers from which advanced
scientific apparatus is supplied The X-ray
plant broke down and the whole expert
ment had 10 be suspended until better in
strumenJs could be procured. That was
done two months ago, and the work re-
stunned. The same gratifying results re-
peated themselves, and a number Of IN
fortUuates find themselves in "a fair way
% be entirely cured of the worst disease
known ia human experience With some
Of the worst cases. all appearance Of the
disease has gone, and a healthy skin has
been built up. The san Lazaro doctors.
however. are not satisfied that they have
worked any permanent cure up TO this
time. Iney urge that nothing short or
years Of treatment should reasonably be
relied on to eradicate entirely the seeds
Of such a persistent and battling disease.
The new X-ray plant IS operated by
electricity, and a staff Of three physicians
is intrusted with the care of il. For the
present the number Of patients is limited
10 twelve. in order that a thorough study
Of the stages and phenomena Of the cure
may be the more carefully made. The
cases now under treatment are for the
most part young persons in the earlier
stages of the disease.
The hospital doctors regard il as more
important at the outset of their expert
mentatiOn 10 determine accurately that
the disease can be cured in its first stages
and so save from a life of horror the
young who may become infected.
As the trial of the X-ray cure goes on il
viii be carefully reported in a scientific
manner. 50 that the new remedy may be
adopted elsewhere. and also that SUI
fCient appropriations may be made for in
stitutions for the cure Of leprosy in the
Philippines and Hawaii
Those who have had direct connection
with the work now going on in Manila to
cure leprosy are confident that a great
secret has been discovered. and that the
whole world viii witness the miracle of a
complete cure of the disease.