Net maker in leprosy settlement, Sarawak

Winning a war against Leprosy: The scourge is a scourge no longer wonder drugs guarantee cure for Sarawak's native population: Now drugs being used at the Sir Charles Brooke Memorial Settlement, 13 miles from Kuching, are taking away 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 for 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 50 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 handicraft 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 net maker: in the Settlement this old Kayan patient carries on his occupation of making nets for the coastal fishermen

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Accepted Afflicted Arranged Avosulfon Banishment Brotherhood Cases Certificate Classes Colonys Cure Cured Definitely Diagnosis Discharged Driven Drug Drugs Dumps Effect Enemies Guarantee Handicraft However Injection Kayan Kuching Learn Leper Lepers Leprosy Loath Longer Means Meant Mixed Nets Often Patients Psychological Quite Relatives Sarawaks Scourge Sworn Tablet Transformation Tribes Vellum

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