The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-12
WAR UPON LEPR0SY
AS WOOD PLANNED
| Will Be FINANCED
Plan Is to Complete S. 900, 600
Campaign in Memory Of
InsuIar Governor
c. R. GREEN CHAIRMAN HERE
Islands Have About 10000 A.
flicted With Disease Who
Can Be Freed Of Il

Bismarck is being asked to join
hands with the other cities Of the me-
ton In observing Philippine day. May
I, when the Leonard Wood Memorial
committee plans to complete its
t2,000,000 campaign for the eradica-
ton Of leprosy in tho Philippines.
The appeal comes from the Leon
ard Wood Memorial. No. l Madison
avenue, New York city. C. r. Green.
manager of the Bank of North Da-
kota has been named as Bismarck
and Burleigh county chairman of any
activities that may be accorded the
day and the cause here. The Asso-
citation Of Commerce also has received
the appeal. but no action has SO far
been taken.
The plan Of the Memorial is to ask
some prominent citizen, as in the case
here. to serve as local chairman
OF a committee Of prominent busi-
ness men. who will become respon-
Siblc for raising a certain sum of
money in the community to help ria
the world o. this foul disease OF
1oprosy.
The trustees of the Leonard Wood
Memorial. which is making this clan
operative, are General James c. Har-
bord, Chairman. General Samuel NC
Roberts. Robert L. Bacon, Eversly
Childs. Robert w. deFOreSt, Dr. John
H. Finley. Charles E. Hughes. Arthur
W. Page, Kermit Roosevelt, Colonel
11enry +. Stimson, and Owen d.
Koung. The headquarters arc in the
metropolitan tower. New York city.
On May /. 1927, Major General
Leonard A. Wood appealed to the
~American nation for a fund Of
- 100000 to eradicate leprosy in the
philippines. where the largest colony
~ these pitiful human beings found
anywhere, are living under the Stars
md Stripes. The response was in
Simultaneous. over $lO00.O00 having
been contributed: and on May l. 1929,
m effort will be made to reach the
objective Of the campaign-complet-
ing the memorial Of this great SOL
, dier's work among the lepers of the
Philippine Islands.
| The construction of new buildings,
Of entire new units. of one completely
new leprosarium has already begun
, at Culion. 2hich Is the Philippine
Island Of the Living Dead" Culion
colony Is actually q great experiment
station. for the hundreds of leper
camps and colonies in other lands
The actual maintenance of the COL
ony, the housing, feeding and cloth
ing, Is taken care Of by the Philip
pine government. which gives 2 per
cent Of the total governmental in
come. or one-third OF its total health
appropriation.
3,o00yO0O Lepers in World
There are 100000 lepers in the
world. $4,000 of whom are on the
Philippine Islands alone; and Culion
m island 200 miles south Of Manila
has facilities for caring for 5000 OF
them.
Very little attention was paid ia
the leprosy problem in the Philip
pines before the United States as
summed responsibility for its govern
ment. It was then estimated that
there were 10000 lepers in the
islands. their existence comparable
only to q living death. They were
doubly afflicted. for besides suffering
from this dread disease, they were
also subject to ostracism and distress
ing privations due to extreme poverty
Reports from DR.. H. Windsor Wade
the American leprologist at Culion
indicate increasing success in the use
Of the chaulmoogra oil treatment, by
which 1t has been possible to check
1eproSy even In fairly advanced
stages. And experts in various parts
Of the world IRE now experimenting
on less painful method Of admins.
tering this cure. DR.. Wade states that
100 negatives have already been re-
turned to their home as cured. eighty
cases having left Culion in January
and February Of this year.
It is hoped completely to eradicate
this terrible scourgc In 10 years in
the PHILIPPINES II the necessary funds
are raised.
Lepers Have Town Of Own
on Culion island, the lepers have
built up 4 real community, many o.
them leading surprisingly normal live.
Ia spite Of their physical condition
Some Of them live in little lauts. made
Of palm or grass. with thatcllec
roofs. Then there are steel-re -en
forced concrete houses, long and low