Leprosy : summary of recent work no. 2.

Date:
1924
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Leprosy : summary of recent work no. 2. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    LEPROSY: HAssELTINE (H. E.). Studies upon Leprosy. XXXIV. Further Statistics of Leprosy in Hawali—U.S. Public Health Service. Treasury Dept. Public Health Bull. No. 130. 1922. Dec. pp. 1-11. This paper continues the records of Public Health Bulletins Nos. 33 and 66 from 1913 to 1921 inclusive, the numbers of admissions in the last year being double that of 1913, owing to a number of lepers having recently surrendered voluntarily to obtain the improved treat- ment—a most satisfactory feature. In spite of this the average annual incidence per 1,000 population has fallen from 0°45 for the decade 1902 to 1911 to only 0°33 per mille during the last ten years, showing that the incidence is gradually lessening. The table of the ages of the lepers shows that 40 per cent. entered segregation before reaching the age of 21, and another 36 per cent. between the ages of 21 and 36, leaving only 24 per cent. in the latter half of life. Association with lepers before segregation was admitted in 48 per cent. of the 665 cases, the most frequently infected relatives in order of frequency being brother or sister 110, father or mother 67, uncie or aunt 56, cousin 28, friend 26, grandparent 19, and son or daughter 13. The duration of the disease before segregation was within one year in 193 of the 665. cases, or nearly one-third, within two years in 311, or nearly one-half, so that over one-half the cases had over two years in which to infect others before they were segregated ; this, it is pointed out, is due to hiding of cases, which “‘ has done much to reduce the power of segrega- tion in the prevention of the disease.’”’ Since the introduction of in- jections of soluble preparations of chaulmoogra oil in the treatment it has been found that early cases yield to treatment more rapidly than those of long standing, and when this becomes generally known “ it may be predicted that a reduction in the incidence of leprosy greater than ever seen in these islands will become evident.’’ Since a number of recovered cases have been discharged on parole the proportion of lepers coming within the first two years of the onset of the disease has risen materially, and one released man brought his daughter in an early nodular stage, six weeks’ treatment of whom removed the nodules and the bacilli, L. Rogers. HASSELTINE (H. E.). Studies upon Leprosy. XXXV. Statistical Report on Cases of Leprosy which have left Segregation on Parole.— U.S. Public Health Service. Treasury Dept. Public Health Bul. Wo tod. 1922. Dec. pp, 12-24,-, [12 refs. | This report on the results of paroling apparently cured or non- infective lepers is of great interest. Since 1912 up to the end of 1921 ‘249 were released, but the average number set free annually up to 1918 was only 11, while during the last three years, as a result of the improved treatment, the average discharges were 57. Europeans had a slightly higher discharge rate then other races; approximately 30 per cent. of those entering segregation have been paroled. The paroled include more females than males in proportion to their numbers, (K1782) WtP.781/159 500 7/24 H&Sp Gpb2