THE PHILIPPINE 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 
B. TROPICAL MEDICINE 
VoL. X NOVEMBER, 1915 No. 6 
THE TREATMENT OF THE RETROGRESSIVE SKIN LESIONS OF 
LEPROSY WITH BASIC FUCHSIN? 
By OSwaLp E. DENNEY 
(Culion Leper Colony, Culion, P. I.) 
THREE PLATES 
To one familiar with the clinical aspects of leprosy the curative 
treatment of the secondary skin lesions is one of the most difficult 
and discouraging problems. 
The frequency with which ulcerations occur, either in the 
course of the disease or from trauma to poorly innervated tissue, 
and the almost hopeless task of curing these sluggish lesions 
tax to the utmost therapeutic resources. 
A recent inspection of the 3,500 lepers comprising the Culion 
Leper Colony showed 42 per cent of them to have ulcers of 
either the hands or feet. Considering that at some time in his 
life nearly every leper has ulcers, the magnitude of the work 
required to care for a large number of lepers can be appreciated. 
Among the patients presenting themselves daily for treatment 
at the surgical clinic of the colony, there is a variety of lesions, 
many of which have remained unchanged for months or years. 
Most of the lesions, with proper medication, remain clean; those 
receiving indifferent attention present an entirely different 
picture. The slovenly habits of the average leper, the scanty 
clothing accommodated to the hot climate, the unfortunate anzs- 
thesias, and the lowered body resistance codperate in producing 
infection which, untreated, frequently results in gangrene. 
With the loss of pain sense, and frequently the loss of smell, also, 
the unfortunate leper fails to recognize the seriousness of his 
condition until the gangrene has invaded better innervated tissue. 
* Received for publication September 28, 1915. 
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