Cure For Leprosy

Claimed

AN American, Dr. D. C. Nelson, at the annual meeting of the China Medi cal Association in Kunming in April, stated that research he had made with Drs. D. A. Collier and M. J. Oberdoerffer had achieved almost complete cures for leprosy. Diphtheria toxoid was used.

Most patients, he said, improved in a fortnight; all improved eventually.

Sometimes the outward signs of leprosy disappeared after several months. He emphasised that the treatment required proof through longer use.

Commenting upon this, in Sydney "Sunday Sun” of April 7, H. C. McKay said that it amounted to treatment of one disease by the immunity-provoker of an

other. Diphtheria toxoid is the substance used to immunise children against diph theria. It is what is called an antigen— in simple terms a substance which, when injected, rouses the body’s defences to resist a certain disease. It’s the rule that the antigen for any disease will act against that disease only. Scientists say it’s like a key fitting a lock.

But queer exceptions turn up. For in stance, in Adelaide last year, it was noted that of more than 2,600 children immu nised from diphtheria, very few con tracted infantile paralysis. In Melbourne.

Dr. E. Campbell, of Kew, has been using diphtheria anti-toxin to combat septic poisoning (septicaemia), and claims suc cess, though the germs of the two diseases are quite different. In America two research workers claim that pneu monia can be warded off by an antigen obtained from germs found in the soil.

If the leprosy claim is confirmed, it will prove a boon to sufferers from the disease. Treatment to-day is by salts of the oily acids obtained from an Asiatic shrub named chaulmoogra. Modern pre parations of these are so efficient that 50 per cent, of cures are claimed. The trouble is, they don’t stay cured. Fifty per cent, of the “cured” relanse; this is the experience of most big leper stations Another drawback of chaulmoogra oii salts is pain on injection.

Time alone can confirm the new claims for toxoid. Lenrosy is a slow smouldering infection; like T. 8., it lies latent for years.