The study was divided into two sections.
1. Isolation of Bacilli
The leproma (5.2g) was homogenized in a homogenizer, trypsin (pure " Mochida " pro- duct) added and left for 3 days at 30°C. This was then centrifuged in a " Spinco " for 30 minutes at 10, 000 r.p.m., the sediment collected and dried. A yield of 180 mg of orga-nisms was obtained. This was almost completely made up of single organisms and contained very little tissue fragments.
2. Sensitization Experiments
The following sensitivity tests were conducted in guinea pigs. Using the leprosy bacilli described above and purified wax of tubercle bacilli.
The animals were divided into 5 groups. Group I was inoculated with 3 mg of leprosy bacilli, Group II with 15 mg of Leprosy baeilli, Group III with 3 mg of leprosy bacilli plus 2 mg of purified wax of tubercle bacilli, Group IV with 2 mg of purified wax of tubercle bacilli and Group V was the untreated control. Each group was composed of 5-10 animals. The inoculum was suspended in 0.5 cc of Freund adjuvant and injected intramuscularly. The cutaneous reaction was examined with lepromin (Dharmendra antigen 0.2 mg/cc) and tuberculin (1:100 dilution) 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 weeks after inoculation. It was found that (a) both the lepromin and tuberculin reactions became positive in Groups I and II 3 weeks after inoculation and the lepromin reaction was retained up to 24 weeks and was stronger than the tuberculin. (b) Both reactions, espeacially the tuberculin reaction, were stronger in Group III than in Groups I or II.
We previously conducted sensitization experiments in guinea pigs using bacilli collected by the Dharmendra method but enhancement of allergy was not observed. With the bacilli collected by the Trypsin method however, allergy was intensified. It is suggested that the wax substance of the bacteria is removed by the chloroform treatment in the Dharmendra method

View full abstract

Lepromas are characterized by the presence of the so- called foam cells. Cytological studies were conducted on the foam cells and it was found that the cells contained vacuoles which stained yellow with Sudan III and that these vacuoles stained orange-red or orange-yellow with the neutral red supravital staining method. Similar findings were observed in the cases of macrophagic cells of the ascitic fluid of rats and histiocytes surrounding the necrotic nest of tumorous tissue. It is suggested that the formation of foam cells is a characteristic of histiocytes in general.

View full abstract

1) Extracts were prepared from the testicular leproma of murine leprosy inoculated ratsand the testes of normal healthy rats. After dialysis and acetone treatment, the effect onthe respiration of murine leprosy bacilli was examined. It was found the dialysis removeda respiration accelerating substance from the extract and treatment with acetone showedthat the accelerating substance was contained in the acetone soluble portion.
2) Studies with the Warburg manometer showed that murine leprosy bacilli posses acatalase activity.

View full abstract

A case of carcinoma of the tongue occurring in a 47 years old male afflicted withLepromatous leprosy is reported.
Two small millet-sized nodules were first observed on the edge of the right side of the tongue. These enlarged rapidly and after 3 months had become 2.5 × 2.1 cm in size andhad a cabbage-like appearance. The tumors were removed surgically. The right external carotid artery was ligated the regional lymph nodes and submandibular nodes excised and the right half of the tongue resected.
Histologically, the tumor was found to be a basal cell carcinoma. The post-operative course has been uneventful.

View full abstract

The therapeutic results of intracutaneous injection of Acidomycin in leprosy has been reported previously (La Lepro, Vol. 24, No. 3, June 1955, Internat. J. Leprosy, Vol. 23, No. 2, 1955). Treatment with this agent, has been continued at various institutions, for various lengths of time, 3-6 months at the shortest, 4 years at the longest, and the results are presented here.
The total number of cases treated was 129, including 88 cases of lepromatous leprosy and 41 cases of macular leprosy (some neural type included). The greatest effect was observed in the macular type, the majority of those responding be longing to this group, while only a few of the lepromatous type showed a response. It is noteworthy that improvement in the sensory disturbance and lessening of the neural thickening took place with long-term treatment.
The mechanism of action of this agent has not been adequately clarified but from the findings that intramuscular injection of Acidomycin has no effect and intracutaneous injections of streptomycin and INAH are ineffective it is suggested that Acidomycin acts specifically on the host tissue rather than acting as a typical chemotherapeutic directly on the leprosy bacilli.

View full abstract

The vital statistics of leprosy patients in Gifu prefecture between 1936 and 1955 was studied. Besides the 292 patients reported in a previous paper, 43 patients have been added for a total of 335 (1.2 per 100, 000 per year). The rate of incidence is slightly higher than in the previous report but there were no significant alterations epidemiologically.
There wsa a total of 253 deaths, 244 from illness and 9 suicides and the death rate has has dropped sharply in recent years and is one-fourth that of the war years. Mortality was 2.4%. The rate of suicide was 3.8% and slightly higher than that of the general population. The deaths according to sex has altered since 1945 with a drop in male deaths so that there is no longer a marked difference between male and female deaths (1936-40-1:3.56, 1941-45-1:3.04, 1946-50-1:1.76, 1951-55-1:1.70).
The average age of death was 45.2 years and the there has been a rise of 11.7 years in the 20 year period but in 1951-55, it was male, 52.1 years and female, 58.3 years. This prolongation of life coincides with the increase in life span of the Japanese people in general except for effect of the suckling deaths.
There has been an increase of 335 (new cases) against a decrease of 314 (253 deaths, 35 fate unknown, 26 cured or improved) in the 20 year period for a total increase of 21 cases. An increase in the lepromatous type and in female cases has taken place. A marked rise in leprosy in Koreans is also noted. There were 137 cases being treated at home at the beginning of 1936 but has decreased to 24 in 1955

View full abstract