Report on experiments with Nastin B in Leprosy / by Major S. Anderson and Major L. Rogers ; with notes by Colonel G.F.A. Harris, inspector-general of Civil Hospitals, Bengal.

  • Anderson, S.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report on experiments with Nastin B in Leprosy / by Major S. Anderson and Major L. Rogers ; with notes by Colonel G.F.A. Harris, inspector-general of Civil Hospitals, Bengal. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    improved in health and their weights increased. In one case only on account of fresh ulcers occurring which healed in from three to four weeks, the patient refused to continue the treatment. Under ordinary circumstances lepers are liable to attacks of recurrent fever which tend to weaken them still further. Under the Nastine treatment similar attacks did occasionally occur, but did not seem to weaken the patients, as they a]l gained in weight. The patients themselves volunteered to continue the treatment, as after some time they began to believe in its efficacy, and when not given it would ask the reason why. In Major Anderson's experience those patients who were most tolerant of the Nastine treatment, and in whom no reaction took place, undoubtedly showed the most improvement. This was particularly shown in the case of a man who came to Purulia from Tippera to be treated as a private patient. Major Anderson gives details of the local reaction seen in his cases : he never observed the very turbulent reactions which are directly dangerous to life. From a study of the cases which have been under his observation he is inclined to think that whilst in all cases only the action of Nastin is desirable, and that after some weeks of tolerance, yet some reaction in a comparatively robust type with few foci, will not only show a marked change in the local lepromata as evidenced by softening and absorption, but also a marked general improvement, and he thinks that whilst the ordinary injections gradually cause absorption round the periphery of the local tumour, the intensity of reactions not only aborts what remains of the local tumours, but abolishes the disease in situ.''* Further in the most favourable cases in the nodular and mixed variety, the commencement of improvement was shown by tingling and creeping sensa- tions in the part and by a return of sensation. Major Anderson is of opinion that treatment with intervals of rest is the correct method, and that if there is any sign of reaction after the usual doses, to recommence with ^ doses: he agrees with Deycke that large doses may frustrate the process of immunisa- tion and prove injurious. Therefore, he thinks, the best plan is to give small doses for years and at long intervals. The anaesthesia was decidedly benefited as patients walked better and unconscious burning of the limbs during the cooking of food was not seen. He recommends the beginning of the cold weather in India as the best time for initiating a course of treatment with Nastin. He doubts whether in Nastin we have a real cure for leprosy, although it undoubtedly aborts the leprous process going on in the body, just in the same manner as mercurials act in syphillis, and, just as in syphillis one cannot be positive that the cure is permanent, so the same applies to Nastine, but Major Anderson thinks it conceivable and even likely that after the primary course, further courses of say four injections at intervals of six months extended over a long period, will not only prevent the spread of any foci remaining over, but will abort the disease absolutely. fSome of bis patients were so confident of cure that they asked to be housed separately, so as to obviate the possibility of re-infection by contact or through food. Major Anderson sees no reason why the Nastine treatment should not be used in the out-patient departments of hospitals. His final conclusion is that he has found the treatment undoubtedly palliative and he thinks it may be permanent- ly curative if persevered with. He admits, however, that it is too soon to form any definite conclusion on this last point, but he is inclined to agree with Deycke, that Nastin will in suitable cases effect a partial or complete ameliora- tion of the symptoms of leprosy. Its main drawbacks are the expense of the remedy, each dose costing about one rupee four annas, and the length of time the treatment takes. For these reasons it cannot be used on a very large scale, i. e.j in large leper asylums, 5. On the whole Major Anderson's results are distinctly encouraging, and, I think, justify a further trial of the remedy in the Purulia Asylum. I accordingly recommend this being done during the current year, fresh cases being used for experiment. In the meantime the cases which have already been experimented on, should be kept carefully under observation, and a further report as to the permanence or otherwise of the cure should be sub- mitted in six months' time. 6. 13oth Majors Rogers and Anderson deserve credit for their careful experiments and for the interesting reports they have submitted.