Report on the treatment of leprosy with gurjun oil and other remedies in hospitals of the Madras Presidency.

Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the treatment of leprosy with gurjun oil and other remedies in hospitals of the Madras Presidency. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    patients generally to submit to any treatment; they have to be almost di-agged to the fumigating basket; and on my last visit to Palliport one of the gurjun oil patients was complained of and brought np to me having been caught greasy handed in the act of scraping off the oil which he had just apphed. This was a patient who was placed on the extra diet costing 5 Annas per day last year, and ran away in consequence, preferring to handle the money (2 Annas) to getting a dietary costing more than double the sum. This man, George, has been on the treatment since 4)th May, and no improvement has taken place, but he is a very unruly patient, and does as little as he can for himself in the way of rubbing the oil, &c. The other patient at present using the oil has been doing so only since the 13th August, and no change is observable as yet. The three patients also who left when using the oil were too short a time under treatment to show any results ; one of them, however, Francis, stated that there was a slight return of sensation in the benumbed parts. The cases of those who were placed on gurjun oil as taken by the Hospital Assistant are herewith sent. There are at present 28 patients undergoing fumigation with carbolic acid, three on cashew-nut oil, two on gurjon oil, and one hopeless case is on no special treatment. Francis, eet. 30, Chi-istian, Native of Cochin. 14^7^ January 1875.—Twelve years a leper and eight months in Palliport. No tubercles on the body, but some discolored patches on the back, right fore- arm, arm, and right ankle-joint. Loss of sensation on the right arm, right scapula, and in a portion of back just on the situation of discoloration. General health good. Placed on gurjun oil treatment. Cold bath every morning, using dry earth as detergent. \st March 1875.—Nothing to be observed since the commencement of treatment. Continue as usual. \st April 1875.—Patient states that he feels slight sensation on the parts where numbness existed. Continue as usual. 22ncl April 1875.—Discharged for drinking. Agam admitted on the 1st July 1875, and was discharged for theft on 29th. Ittamun, 8Bt. 32, Hindu, Native of Quilon. lUh January 1875.—Ten years a leper and four months in Palliport. No tubercles on the body, but thickening of ears and chin. Lost two toes on the right foot, and some of the nails on the fingers are eaten away. Loss of sensation in legs and arms. General health fair. Put on guinun oil treatment as directed. 1st March 1875.—Nothing to be observed since commencing the treat- ment. Uth March 1875.—Was discharged this day from the hospital at his ovm request.