Leprosy Serum Found?

Though generally considered an almost extinct disease, leprosy still grips between two and three million sufferers. Most of these are herded into colonies which dot the globe. There they are treated, often cured.

Last week Bacteriologist Hermann Dostal of Vienna announced that he had isolated the leprosy bacillus, developed a serum. One problem which has always confronted scientists attempting to isolate the bacillus has been a means of keeping it alive once it was removed from the human body. Dr. Dostal's success lay in developing a culture medium. Another difficulty: animals not being susceptible to leprosy, it is necessary to experiment with humans.

His serum, he announced, has been used with "gratifying" results in the Bari Clinic Some of his patients showed marked improvement, others were definitely cured.

Other leprosy news of last week: the opening of Leonard Wood Hospital at Cebu, Philippine Islands. Built of concrete and bamboo, it is a 26-building hospital big enough for 700 patients.

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