The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-09-23
NASTIN TREATMENT
HAD GOOD RESULTS
Experiments in British Guiana
Leper Colony Lead to a
Claimed Cure.

Leprosy, long the scourge of many
lands and the most lonthsome of all
diseases, is slowly losing ground The
whole medical world has hailed as
triumph of science the results of the
Investigations of Drs. Brinckerhoff and
Currie, on Molokai, and now Professor
Deycke, of Hamburg, after months of
experimental treatment of lepers in
British Guiana, announces that a cure
discovered by hin has been successful
"The dawn of brighter day has
been hastened by the discovery and
experiments of Professor Deycke, -
says the Pail Mall Gazette. fThis
distinguished investigator, whose work
is attracting increased attention, has
invented the 'nastin' treatment of the
disease. This treatment consists of
the subcutaneous injection of nastin-
bacterial fatty body in oily solution,
combined with benzoyl chloride. The
effect is to destroy the bacilli of lep.
rosy.
CAT the Bombay Medical Congress
last year it was reported by Captain
Beauchamp Williams, residency sur
geon in the Persian Gulf, that some
cases which he had treated by this
method appeared to justify Professor
Deycke in his claims. The announce.
ment is now made that the Governor
of British Guiana has authorized the
discharge from the leper asylum OF
that colony of n negro who had un
dergOne the nastin treatment
"This man came under the persona
attention of Professor Deycke, who
with the cordial approval of the Col
Orial Office spent five months in Brit
ish Guiana last year, the leper asylum
being placed at his disposal for expert
mental purposes. The institution con
tains upwards of 400 lepers, Ill o.
whom (69 male and 40 female) wer,
treated by the professor. The injections
which are practically painless, ~,
given once week for three months
they are then suspended for lik'
period; recommended for two months
again discontinued for three months
and then resumed for n similar period
In Jos cases the professor observed
92.79 per cent had improved. He ha
placed it on record that in a perioC
of treatment covering only three an,
half months no definite result coulC
possibly be attained. In such chronic
disease as leprosy it is absolutely neces
sGry, he says, to continue the treatmen
NJ lulefNhlS LOT seNeEhl years. heSull
vary, the difference depending not onl
on the age and severity of the disease
but also on the individual condition o
the patient.
:" He further states: I do not doub
that if the cases of nervous lepros
are treated early enough, and wit
the necessary experienced care wit
nastin, large number of these unfol
tunate human beings may be preserve
from mutilation and other severe il
sions. l even believe that after
longer treatment with nastin, not fey
of the nervous patients can be restore
to the human community
"After the departure of Professo
Deyeke from British Guiana the treat
ment was continued by the medical su
perintendent of the leper asylum. TIL
man whose cure is now reported wa
under treatment for sixteen months
He is described as free from all sign
of leprosy, his symptoms-black mark
on the face and swelling of the finger
and ears-having disappeared.