Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-09-23


Surely the cup of thankfulness of
that group OF once lepers was brim-
ming as, to the notes of the doxology,
they passed through the lava pillars
IF Kali,ii, IN Hawaii, the other day on
heir way to freedom and peace, writes
John Walker Harrington In the New
York Times.
Victims OF one Of the oldest scourges
of mankind. they had gone through
those gates less than two years before,
believing that above them was written
In letters invisible: "He who entereth
here leaves hope behind"
The dispatches from Honolulu have
told how through the chaulmoogra oil
treatment this group of sixty-four men
and women. who had thought them
selves condemned to living death, had
been restored to home and life.
In view of the fact that in the last
two years 142 patients have been pa
rolled from this leper colony and not
one as yet has been sent back science
may indeed be said to have won much
vantage ground in its eight against
the scourge.
An impressive scene 1t was when
Stephen Desha, minister of the Gospel
standing before the band of the re-
deemed, lifted his voice in benediction
and the choiring multitude gave thanks
In antiphonal song Their paean of
praise swelled in volume to the OBJ
bligato of the rustling palms and the
signing of the warm trade winds.
Reports from various scources now
indicate that there is much merit In
the oil from the nuts of the chaulmoo-
gra tree. native of India, which has
been tested under severe conditions.
If the good augury iG Dorne out many
n brave life will be spared, for there
have been scores of martyrs who, fol-
lowing the example of Father Dameln,
devoted themselves to minisfering to
the disease disfigured outcasts, against
whom society had raised the cry, "Un-
clean !" Sound in body and in mind,
they had taken upon themselves vows
to return no more to the world, but to
dedicate their lives 10 lingering sac
rifice. If, then. science has reached
the hard won goal of conquering that
disease, which swept the ancient world
and has lurked all these centuries in
lands under the tropic sun, there may
be no more such offerings upon the
altar of humanity.
Much Hope for Lepers.
Whenever announcement Is made
that a cure has been found for anything
,he medical profession raises the note
of caution. 1t would know how many
cases have been treated and makes un-
relenting analysis Even granting full
sway to scepicism. however, there Is
abundant ground for believing that
there is much hope for the leper.
Leprosy, although 1t has existed so
ioug In the East, did not appear In
Hawaii until 1S4s, when 1t was be.
lieved to have found its way there
from China. Various remedies were
tried in the effort to drive 1t from
its lodgment, but before many years
there were 1000 lnhabitantG Of the is
land segregated on account os the dis
ease. Little progress had been made,
however. In combating 1t.
The development of bacteriology in
the lasr fifty years has done much,
hcwever, to aid in the treatment of
the wasting plague. The isolation of
the bacilll leprae in 1871 was followed
by further developments, and as early
as 1888 medical science turned to
ward chaulmoogra oil. II was not un-
I'll ten years ago. however, that the
tests of the remedy were developed
along lines which justified good
opinion of its efficacy.
lust why the oil should have so
marked an effect is matter of con
lecture, for at first its use was re
gatded az purely empirical. Leprosy
is distinguished by the formation of
great number of granular cells, and
large nodules of Infected matter form
under the skin and give that loatb-
some appearance which marks even the
first stages of the disease. In these
nodules are found embedded the ba-
cilli- 1t is believed that the chaulmoo-
sra oil contains an active principle.
not as yet identified. which gradually
destroys these bacilli.
The oil is usually given by injecting
II into the veins with hypodermic
syringe. but 1t can also be admins
tered in gelatine capsules by the mouth.
II has an unpleasant taste and Is
likely to disturb the digestion when so
given. 1t has also been employed
combined with camphorated oil and
resorciD. When swallowed II has beon
noted that the crude oil is more eff
cacious than the refined. which indi-
cafes that processing in some way af-
fects the subtle. and beneficent active
principle.
The elaborate report on the treat
ment made by DR.. Victor Fl. Heiser.
a srrraon of the United Stntes Public