Musicians playing at leprosy treatment centre, Sarawak

Feb. 26 Winning a war against Leprosy: The Scourge is a scourge no longer wonder drugs guarantee cures for Sarawak's Native Population: New drugs being used at the Sir Charles Brooke Memorial Settlement 13 miles from Kuching, are taking away all terror of the disease which once meant social banishment for the afflicted. In the past 10 years, a transformation in diagnosis and treatment has taken place. No longer is the leper driven from home and village, getting food left by relatives at pre-arranged dumps. The wonder drug Avosulfon (Diaminodiphensulphone) is taken in tablet or injection form. Early cases are cured in a year. So far 450 cases in the Settlement have been definitely cured. Discharged patients are presented with a vellum certificate by the Colony's governor, at a special Passing out ceremony. This has the psychological effect and the material means of getting the former leper to be accepted once again in his village and tribal community. While at the Settlement, patients learn a trade, and products of their handicrafts are sold for their own benefit. The lepers are from mixed tribes, many of which have only recently been sworn enemies. Once in the Settlement, however there is a universal brotherhood of the afflicted. They have their own orchestra, shops, classes etc, and quite often a cured leper is loath to leave when his time is up. The Leper Settlement has a first class jazz band. The orchestra also plays classical music. Except for the accordion, all the instruments have been made by the inmates. Frequent concerts are given

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Accepted Accordion Afflicted Avosulfon Banishment Bass Brotherhood Cases Certificate Classes Colonys Concerts Cured Cures Definitely Diagnosis Discharged Driven Drug Drugs Dumps Effect Enemies Except Frequent Guarantee Handicrafts However Injection Inmates Kuching Learn Leper Lepers Leprosy Loath Longer Means Meant Mixed Often Patients Psychological Quite Relatives Sarawaks Scourge Sworn Tablet Transformation Tribes Ukulele Vellum

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