Some months ago we referred in this column to the results obtained by treating lepers with refined chaulmoogra oil and pointed out tnat much remained to be done before it could be definitely proved that a cure had been discovered. On Apri] 24 in the Hawaiian islands 64 men and women were discharged from the Kalihi Hospital, allowed to return to weir homes on parole. The understand-ang with these people is that on. any recurrence of signs of the disease they are again to report to the authorities. In all some 14% have been thus liberated in two years without a single person being sent back owing to a return of the disease. Without certain knowledge as to the surveillance maintained over these paroled patients it is possible that the results prove much or nothing. Yet on the assumption that no responsible medical man would Iiberate a leper unless morally certain that a cure has been effected, it would: seem that a very marked step has been achieved in stamping out one of the most fell afflictions known to humanity. Possibly a very few more years will set all doubts at rest but in the meantime things look decidedly hopeful.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.