(1) A number of indications and analogies snggest the trial of coal-tar dyes and their derivativ es in leprosy. (2) Intravenous injections of a large number of dyes have been given to 85 patients. (3) A number of these dyes show marked selective concentration in the leprotic lesions, a phenomenon not seen in certain non-leprotic lesions. (4) With trypan blue, brilliant green, fluorescein and perhaps eosin a definite diminution of the external manifestations of leprosy has been observed, accompanied by other signs of clinical improvement. (5) With the other dy es administered no signs of clinical improvement were observed. (6) This report is a study of the immediate reaction of the lesions; we have as yet no knowledge of the later effects of the injection of these dyes. We consider from this preliminary report that further trial and study of these dyes is definitely indicated in the hope that it may lead to further possibilities in the chemotherapy of this disease.
(1) In the treatment of leprosy cases with intravenous InJections of aniline dyes, fluorescein has seemed to us to give the most stable effects.
(2) Sixty-four cases have been treated with intravenous injections of fluorescein over a period of four months.
(3) After six weeks treatment about 60 per cent of these cases showed greater or less specific response, based on clinical examination of the lesions and laboratory findings.
(4) The improvement rate dropped to 43 per cent on continuing the treatment for four months.
(5) Nine cases have been treated with resorcin blue (resorcin being one of the components of fluorescein). No effect was obtained.
(6) Sixteen patients have been treated for two months with intravenous injections of phthallic acid (the other component of fluorescein) with greater or less lesion response in 62 per cent of cases.
This report is a brief statement of the status of leprosy activities in Malaya, which includes both the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States. Data relating to numbers of cases and treatment refer to the year 1932 especially.