The Fifth International Congress of Leprosy was held in Havana (President of Congress: A Oteiza Setien; President of the International Leprosy Association: H W Wade) IJL 16: 431-438)[Conference/Congress, People, Treatment][West Indies]
1948
JesushilfeAt the commencement of the War of Liberation (i.e. Israel’s War of Independence) the hospital housed 60-70- patients, mostly Arabs. The hospital remained in the Jewish section of the new city (Jerusalem). The Arab patients preferred to move to East Jerusalem together with the Deaconesses. Remaining in the hospital were 34 H.D. patients (26 Jews and 8 Arabs). In 1951, the hospital was sold to the Government of Israel and the Ministry of Health took over the management. The name was changed to the Hansen Hospital . Medical responsibility for the hospital was given to the dermatology Department of Hadassah in Jerusalem. After 1948, 283 patients immigrated to Israel, most of them from 11 countries. Treatment was free. Actually the building can accommodate 100 beds, but the average number of in-patients never arose above 30; the rest received ambulatory treatment. Nissim Levy, History of Medicine in the Holy Land : 1799-1948 (Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishing House & the Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel, 1998), translation by Professor Mark N. Lowenthal.[Leprosarium][Palestine]
1948
Souza Lima, Brazil: DDS given orally[Treatment][Brazil]
1948
Ongino Hospital"Those who have had the opportunity of hearing Mr Ndahura speak will not forget the clearness with which he referred to the great change that came with the arrival of the new medicine, the sulphones. Then patients began to come readily, and with hope of being cured. This change coincided with the coming of Dr Wheate to Ongino in November 1948. Soon afterwards it became possible to issue discharge certificates to patients "symptom free" of the disease. (122/3 Kumi and Ongino 1958-1960, Report from Dr J Maurice Lea, Archives of the Leprosy Mission International, Brentford).[Leprosarium][Uganda]
1948
In 1948, Dr Guinto was appointed Epidemiologist of the Leonard Wood Memorial "Appendix 1 Important Dates and Events in the Scientific Program of the Leonard Wood Memorial" in Forty Years of Leprosy Research: History of the Leonard Wood Memorial (American Leprosy Foundation) 1928 to 1967 by Esmond R Long (Washington DC: Office of the Medical Director, Leonard Wood Memorial, 1967)[Organisation]
1948
BamraThe Princely State of Bamra was acceded to India on 1 Jan 1948.[Leprosarium][India]
1948
In 1948, staff of the Leonard Wood Memorial participated in the Vth International Congress on Leprosy in Havana, Cuba; 226 leprologists attended from 40 countries "Appendix 1 Important Dates and Events in the Scientific Program of the Leonard Wood Memorial" in Forty Years of Leprosy Research: History of the Leonard Wood Memorial (American Leprosy Foundation) 1928 to 1967 by Esmond R Long (Washington DC: Office of the Medical Director, Leonard Wood Memorial, 1967)[Organisation]
1948
In 1948, Dr Doull was appointed the Medical Director of the Leonard Wood Memorial and Dr Wade became the Associate Medical Director "Appendix 1 Important Dates and Events in the Scientific Program of the Leonard Wood Memorial" in Forty Years of Leprosy Research: History of the Leonard Wood Memorial (American Leprosy Foundation) 1928 to 1967 by Esmond R Long (Washington DC: Office of the Medical Director, Leonard Wood Memorial, 1967)[Organisation]
1948
On Fantôme Island, in Queensland, “Sulphetrone treatment commenced in 1948. Difficulty was experienced in regard to dosage, but this has now been cut down as a result of the number of reactions and complications have lessened. This has led to greater co-operation by the patients. It is pleasing to note that the results obtained at Peel Island are paralleled at Fantôme, and it is anticipated in the next few weeks seven patients will be discharged.” (Vincent F B Lennon, Medical Officer in Charge, F Mahony, Superintendent “Leprosy”Health Department Annual Report extract: 1949-50)[Epidemiology][Australasia]
1948
Government expended £4,500 capital and £1,000 for maintenance. Their out-patients numbered 576, a very small proportion of the Protectorate cases, as the section on survey and incidence estimates will show (Anti-Leprosy Measures in the Uganda Protectorate, 1824-51) in “Leprosy Incidence and Control in East Africa, 1924-1952 and the Outlook” by Leonard Rogers, Leprosy Review 25.1 (1954): 41-59[Epidemiology, Organisation, People, Treatment][Africa, Uganda]
1948
Uganda: In 1948 Dr Wheate introduced sulphone treatment at Kumi, Uganda.[Treatment][Africa, Uganda]
1949
The annual report on leprosy in Queensland states that “The use of sulphone drugs has been continued with the good results obtained in previous years. Promin was the drug first used and this was followed by diasone. It is generally accepted that these two sulphones, together with sulphetrone, produce equally good results, but promin has been discarded, firstly as it is necessary to give it intravenously, but chiefly because it is more toxic than the other two.” “As the method of spread of Hansen’s disease has yet to be discovered, and because it is limited, it should be able to be eradicated with the isolation of infected persons and adequate follow up of contacts. I am of the opinion that our only hope of eradicating Hansen’s disease is by isolating patients and by sulphone drugs, and until such time as the method of spread of the disease is known I cannot recommend any alteration in the present policy of discharge.”[Epidemiology][Australasia]
1949
Since the introduction of the sulphetrone drugs, Government expenditure has risen sharply. Dr.Ross Innes’s surveys have led to many requests for admission by leprosy cases, mostly advanced ones (Anti-Leprosy Measures in the Uganda Protectorate, 1824-51) in “Leprosy Incidence and Control in East Africa, 1924-1952 and the Outlook” by Leonard Rogers, Leprosy Review 25.1 (1954): 41-59[Epidemiology, Organisation, People, Treatment][Africa, Uganda]
1949
Kenya: In 1949, Dr. Ross Innes, after making a survey, reported 10.2 per mille, and estimated the total number of leprosy cases at 35,000 in Kenya. Most cases were non-infectious and could be treated at home. Preliminary plans for a leprosarium at Itesio were made for about 500 infective cases. Prior to 1949, the Kenya annual medical reports indicated little progress during the quarter of a century in the adoption of modern anti-leprosy measures. However, subsequently, the adoption of the more effective sulphone treatment, combined with the stimulus of Ross Innes’ surveys in revealing the serious incidence of leprosy in the Kenya Protectorate, led the Government to the conclusion that leprosy could be controlled, and possibly even eradicated, provided the necessary finance was available. "The results of Ross Innes’s survey revealed an approximate estimate of 35,000, or 10.2 per mille population. Infective lepromatous ones formed about 20 per cent of the total; this indicates a total of about 7,000 which require isolation to prevent further infections from them, and to permit them to receive efficient sulphone treatment. The urgency of providing leprosaria for this purpose is shown by the statement of Ross Innes that he had only found 50-60 cases under effective treatment and some 200 others in two camps. The incidence in different areas varied from 0.9 to 32.7 per mille. Overcrowding and high humidity again favoured high incidence. This indicates the necessity of seeking out dry localities for the new leprosaria. This is being done and in 1953 it was reported by BELRA that the new one at Itesio already had 2,500 registered patients, most of whom were out-patients coming from as far as 15 miles away for treatment." (Leonard Rogers, "Leprosy Incidence and Control in East Africa, 1924-1952 and the Outlook" Leprosy Review 25.1 (1954): 41-59)[Epidemiology, People][Africa, Kenya]
1949
Thane District, Maharashtra, India: 38 cases were under treatment in asylums. Source: Maharashtra State Gazetteer: Government of Maharashtra Thane District (Revised Edition). Bombay: Gazetteers Department, Government of Maharashtra, 1982. 1st edn: 1882. 2nd edn (rev) 1982, p. 897.[Epidemiology][India]
1949
St Joseph's Leprosy HospitalHospital founded by Mgr Francis T Roche, S J, with the help of three sisters of the Institute of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM). Leprosy Review , Sep 2000, 71.3[Leprosarium][India]
1949
Xiaowang Island leprosariumConstruction of the leprosarium began in Autumn 1949. Source: Professor Jiang Cheng (Compiler), "A Schedule of the Leprosy Hospitals and Clinics: Preliminary Investigation in China" Department for the Prevention of Epidemic Diseases, Ministry of Health, China (April 1951).[Leprosarium][China]
1949
DDS for treatment in tablet form. Used by Dr R G Cochrane. Positive bacillary findings in contacts of LL cases – Figueredo and Desai (Dongre, ILA History Workshop, July 2000)[People, Treatment]
1949
In 1949, the headquarters for the Scientific Research Program (Office of the Medical Director) for the Leonard Wood Memorial was established by Dr Doull at 1832 M Street, NW Washington, DC "Appendix 1 Important Dates and Events in the Scientific Program of the Leonard Wood Memorial" in Forty Years of Leprosy Research: History of the Leonard Wood Memorial (American Leprosy Foundation) 1928 to 1967 by Esmond R Long (Washington DC: Office of the Medical Director, Leonard Wood Memorial, 1967)[Organisation]
1949
In 1949, Dr Fred C Kluth was appointed the Assistant Epidemiologist of the Memorial and began epidemiology research in Texas. This was continued until 1956. These studies renewed interest in leprosy on the part of health officers. In one large city of Texas, a clinic was established for examination and treatment "Appendix 1 Important Dates and Events in the Scientific Program of the Leonard Wood Memorial" in Forty Years of Leprosy Research: History of the Leonard Wood Memorial (American Leprosy Foundation) 1928 to 1967 by Esmond R Long (Washington DC: Office of the Medical Director, Leonard Wood Memorial, 1967)[Organisation]
1949
In 1949, Dr Clarke T Gray was appointed Biochemist of the Leonard Wood Memorial Research Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts "Appendix 1 Important Dates and Events in the Scientific Program of the Leonard Wood Memorial" in Forty Years of Leprosy Research: History of the Leonard Wood Memorial (American Leprosy Foundation) 1928 to 1967 by Esmond R Long (Washington DC: Office of the Medical Director, Leonard Wood Memorial, 1967)[Organisation]
1950
In 1950, the Provincial Branch of the Indian Council of BELRA, which had been working in the field of leprosy for 14 years, was formally dissolved, and the Orissa branch of Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh was formed. This State Branch was affiliated to the central body of Hind Kust Nivaran Sangh (Indian Leprosy Association), New Delhi. HKNS has been playing a central role in the field of leprosy since the National Leprosy Control programme started in the country in 1954-55. HKNS was the nodal agency through which the Government used to implement activites where there was limited infrastructure available. Once the infrastructure was established, the HKNS was given the responsibility for managing the leprosy homes and hospitals or colonies in the State of Orissa.[Organisation, Other][India]
1950
Indian Association of Leprologists (Dongre, ILA History Workshop, July 2000)[Other][India]
1950
Promin introduced into Cape Verde. A Loretti, and D Garbellini, 'Leprosy in the Cape Verde Islands', Leprosy Review (1981), 52: 337-48, p. 338.[Treatment][Africa]
1950
1950s - National Leprosy Campaign (Campanha Nacional de Lepra) begun in Brazil. It ended in 1964. (Velloso, A P & Andrade, V. Hanseníase: curar para eliminar . Porto Alegre, 2002)[Other][Brazil]
1950
Kenya: In 1950, in Kenya, good results from the use of sulphones were reported within 17 months for the non-infective and mild tuberculoid and early “indeterminate” cases. Infective lepromatous cases also showed great improvement. The report for this year added that “There now seems to be little doubt that leprosy can be controlled, and possibly even eradicated, provided the necessary finance can be made available.” Three leprosaria were required, each under a full-time medical officer. (Leonard Rogers, "Leprosy Incidence and Control in East Africa, 1924-1952 and the Outlook" Leprosy Review 25.1 (1954): 41-59)[Epidemiology, People, Treatment][Africa, Kenya]
1950
On December 5, 1950, the Hatibari Health Home was established by Dr Santra.[People][India]
1950
Tanzania: 2 surveys by Dr James Ross Innes, published in the East African Medical Journal 26 (1949): 199 and 27 (1950): 459, gave an average prevalence rate of 18.1 per 1000, or 100,000 for the whole population. Source: HW White, "Leprosy Control in Tanzania", Lep Rev , 40.4 (1969): 217-222.[Epidemiology][Africa, Tanzania]
1950
"Between 1950 and 1960, there were nineteen provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities with a prevalence of 1/10,000. These were Guangdong, Yunnan, Hainan, Tibet, Fujian, Guizhou, Jiangsu, Shangdong, Guangxi, Shanghai, Jiangxi, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Xinjiang, Hubei, Gansu, Sichuan, and Huan." (Professor Yin Dakui, Vice Minister of Health, the People's Republic of China, "Achievements and Prospect on Leprosy Prevention and Control in China", September 7, 1998, Bejing)[Epidemiology][China]