The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-07-07
BY JAMES r. YOUNG

Two natives OF Texas. DR.. Eu
gene X. Kellersberger and Adm
Chester W. Nimitz. are fghtinl
deadly but totally unlike enemie
OF humanity in the Pacific.
Military conquest OF Okinawa u
final but the next battle of okina
wa is for the pitiful. weakened ant
enfeebled civilians who have tn,
highest percentage of leprosy IL
Japan.
DIR. Kellersberger. born at Cy
press Mill, Tex. 30 miles from
Fredericksburg. the cactus country
birthplace OF Admiral Nimitz, an
ticipates new leprosy cases in thu
United States being brought hom'
by returning veterans. For 20 Il
rs years they may be unaware o
the afflictiin. In an overseas arm!
Of 100000. DR.. Kellersberger est
mates there is potential contagior
for only a small number OF L. S
service men.
However, there have been re
Gently discovered leper cases II
some parts OF the country and these
will be sent by the U. S. Public
Health Service to national lepro
sarium at Carville, La.
DR.. Kellersberger leads a van
guard of an American army OF doc
tors, men and women, who figh
leprosy. He has given years o
specialized training to Christian
medical workers in Africa and In
dia. He now foresees long tour'
OF duty In the Philippines, JapaI
and India and the necessity t
control the scourge which has af
licted mankind from prehistoric
times.
Leprosy Is a mysterious. infec
tious, mildly contagious disease
characterized by disintegration o
body tissues. Its cause and III
cure are yelled in the mists OF sec
crecy in spite of modern scientific
research.
Leprosy in japanese area
spreads by reason OF poverty ant
ignorance OF millions in the lowe
classes. Children are especial,
susceptible. Therefore in Japs
nese families OF 10 and IL chi
leprosy acquires many new victims
Improper sanitation and lack o
water filters among the throngs o
humanity moving from Japanes
cities to escape our aerial hole
caust, could further breed a worl'
disease already estimated to hav
from 100000 to 100000 In It
perils.
Climatic conditions at this sea
son too will multiply the cases o
malaria, dysentery and polio. BE
tween Okinawa and Kyushu Island
Japan's heaviest rainfall CON
mences this month. Mosquito an,
rat ridden, that area will requir
medical planning as exacting as tn
precision bombing OF factories
Arrogant Jap military leader
make no allowance for family ny
giene. congestion in shelters, ur
sanitary surroundings and under
nourishment. Bombed roads, blas'
ed water treatment tanks, and fal
en- bridges over countless SINAI
rivers will create insuperable prof
lens now for the enemy, and for u
too when we take each square mil
Of the densely populated sea coas
cities.
have read the excerpts OF a lei
ter from a Filipino doctor at tn
Leonard Wood Leoprosarium, SC
entific, leper colony on Culiol
Island in the Philippines. He wrot
that when the Japanese seized tn
island, Rev. and Mrs. Fredericl
Jensen. Danes, we're informed an
not permitted to continue their hu
man efforts for the 5000 mutilate'
outcasts. A thousand leapers al
tempted escape by small boats Blu
many were drowned. while so
diers OF the Emperor purposel
starved to death 1000 Filipin
lepers at Culion. On liberatio
our forces found 1000 pitiful viz
tins. DR.. Kellersberger on recei1
ing the report. sent $1,000 as a toll
en- of assistance from his organiEi
ton. the American Mission {
Lepers.
An American medical mission
airy. DR.. A. Oltmans, establishe
leaper hospital on Oshima Islam
in the Inland Sea OF japan year
ago. After his death, Rev. an
Mrs. S. NJ. Erickson. now OF Ricl
mond, Va, worked among the leal
ers. The Japanese government n
fused American medical pract
TONERS permission TO work a
leoprologists. They were permi
ted only for evangelism anon
Japanese leper patients.
Leper colonies in Korea and il
pan were contacted by DR.. A. {
Fletcher, New York City, DR.. r. N
Wilson. now OF the Richmond, Va
city health department. and Rev
J. b. N. Talmage. who after year