The histopathological changes in the lymphnodes of dogs injected intramuscularly with Chaulmoogra oil were investigated and the findings compared to those in man.
1) The intramuscularly injected Chaulmoogra oil was deposited in the regional lymphnodes and giant vacuoles and foreign body giant cells similar to those seen in the lymphnodes of the extremities in human leprosy were found.
2) A part of the Chaulmoogra oil administered by mouth is deposited in the mesen-teric lymphnode system.
3) Lipoidemia occurs by both routes of administration and the lymphnodes through-out the body and the reticuloendothelial systems of the spleen and liver show a form of lipoidhistiocytosis. Granuloma formation however, was not observed.
4) There was an increase in fat loading of the erythrocytes and activation of the reticuloendothelial system with a marked increase in red cells and haemosiderin of the reticuloendothelial system.

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Round, wedge-shaped, groove-like and other forms of parenchymal defects in the cervical region of labial and buccal surface of the incisors, canine, premolar and morals are often observed in leprosy and in other chronic conditions. The cause however differs basically from dental decay. The rate of occurrence is rather high and it is found in about 25% of the patients. The incidence is higher in the upper jaw and in the male but there is no difference according to the type of leprosy and it is found more often in the elderly case. The color differs according to the stage varying from almost white initially to yellow and crown. Subjective complaints are present initially but disappear later.
Various theories have been advanced as to the cause but it is suggested that decalci-fication occurs due to acid salts produced in the mouth and the defect develops by the mechanical action, e. g. brushing the teeth.
Histologically, the tooth is filled with calcium salt which forms an opaque zone along the entire length and the lucid zone present in dental decay is not found. The different coloration is due to deposition of pigment on the opaque layer.

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Leprous pind spots of the tooth is a condition found in the incisors of the upper jaw of lepromatous leprosy patients and is due to coloration of the tooth by the action of the leprosy bacilli. This condition is never observed in neural leprosy. There are usually no defects in the teeth and no response to heart, cold or tapping and usually no subjective symptoms.
Histologically, there is hyperemia and inflammation and increase in lepra cells together with proliferation of leprosy bacilli in the dental pulp initially but no hemorrhage or congestion. This is followed by degeneration of the pulp and disappearance of the lepra cells and bacilli. There is an increase in lipoid material and the pulp undergoes hyaline and lipoid degeneration. At this stage the tooth becomes discolored a red tone macroscopically. The red color is due to combination of the lipoid with lipofuscin which is produced by destruction of the leprosy bacilli and this condition is unique to leprosy.

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Studies have been made by many investigators on the allergic reaction to leprosy bacilli and the presence of common antigens between tubercle bacilli and leprosy bacilli. In the present investigation, the experiments were undertaken to show that a similar antigen as P.P.D, would be contained in murine leprosy bacilli, using skin reaction in guinea pigs.
Groups of guinea pigs were sensitized with tubercle bacilli (H37RV), killed by phenol treatment, B.C.G. and suspensions of murine leprosy bacilli, obtained from the leproms of infected mice. These antigens, suspended in paraffin oil, were used for sensitization. The old tuberclin, P.P.D, and the suspension of murine leprosy bacilli (S. D. antigen) prepared by the Dharmendra's method, gave definite allegic reactions in all groups of sensitized guinea pigs, indicating these results of cross-reaction between tubercle bacilli and murine leprosy bacilli.
The allergic reactions appeared several hours after the injection of the antigens, reached maxium 24 to 48 hours later.
The similar allergic skin reactions were observed in guinea pigs passively sensitized with peritoneal cells of the actively sensitized animals but not in the guinea pigs sensitized with immunosera. An immediate increase of capillary permeability of the skin was not detected by the injection of S.D. antigen to both guinea pigs, sensitized with either tubercle bacilli or murine leprosy bacilli, in spite of the definite wheal and redness after 24 to 48 hours suggesting that the reaction is delayd type. Also the reaction of cornea, which is characteristic for delayd type allergy was observed by the intra-corneal injection of O.T. or P.P.D. to the guinea pigs sensitized with murine leprosy bacilli. From these findings, it became obvious that murine leprosy bacilli contains a similar antigen as the tuberculo-protein and that the allergic reaction observed are delayd type in nature.

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Rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with BCG vaccine and then challenged with murine leprosy bacilli at 1, 5, 10 and 20 weeks. The duration of immunity and the fate of BCG in the organs was examined. The following results were obtained.
1) From the standpoint of leproma development, onset is suppressed in the group challenged at 1 weed and the suppression is even greater at 5, 10 and 20 weeks after BCG inoculation. (Fig. 1)
2) Compared to the control, the weight of the leproma is less and the number of bacilli in the inguinal and axillary lymphnodes is smaller in the BCG inoculatea groups. (Fig. 2, Table 5, and Photo.)
3) Cultivation of the BCG in the organs showed that there was proliferation up to 5 weeks. There is a sharp decrease thereafter and at 26 weeks, the bacilli have disappeared for the most part. (Fig. 3 and 4, Table 6)
4) Immune effect becomes appareut fromes in 1 to 20 weeks but the time of maximum immunity could not be clarified. The above results soow that growth of the murine leprosy bacilli is slower than that of the tubercle bacilli and on this account the duration of immunity is somewhat longer.

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Antitumor agents, as Actinomycin, Carzinophilin, Sarkomycin, Azan, Nitromin and Mitomycin were administering in a dose of 1/30 mouse LD50 for 4 months but there was no suppression of onset of murine leprosy. Oxythiamin, sulfathiazole, Terramycin also had no onset suppressing action. A derivative of INAH, salcylaldehyde isonicotinyl hydrazone, completely suppressed onset of murine leprosy when administered in a large dose (150mg/kg).

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As stated in the preceding reports, the C 57 BL strain was considered to be adequate for leproma inhibition experiment by drugs, while the C 3 H strain appeared to be more suitable than other strains for immunological and therapeutic experiments.
On the basis of these findings, the susceptibility to subcutaneous inoculation with murine leprosy bacilli of the hybrids from reciprocal crosses between above two inbred strains was examined for the purpose of testing whether it would be adequate for all above purposes.
Most of the hybrids showed the intermediate characters and they lost the excellence of the parental strains.
Taking these observations into consideration, the hybrids obtained by crossing females of dd or CF 1 with males of C 57 BL or C 3 H were examined for same purpose. These hybrids presented similar properties to C 57 BL or C 3 H.
The suitable strain, therefore, could not be obtained in this experiment.

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Though the number of fresh cases of leprosy have decreased in recent years in Gif u prefecture, the total number of patients in the leprosarium and in private homes has increased by 21 in the past 20 years due to decrease in mortality. Including undetected cases, it is believed that there are 246 cases (1.58per 10, 000) at the present time.
The number of non-hospitalized patients, being treated at home, have decreased by 113 in the past 20 years and there are only 24 known cases at present (0.15per 10, 000). Of these, 46% are over 60 years of age and more than 11 years have elapsed since onset in 71%. It will be a difficult problem however, to induce these patients to enter leprosaria and reduce the number of home patients.
The small number of home patients with the L-form, the marked shift to the right in the age distribution curve both in the total number and in the fresh cases, the high proportion of cases in which 11 years or more have elapsed since onset, the type ratio (L/M+N) in fresh cases and the reduction in sex ratio all suggest that the epidemic of leprosy in Gifu prefecture is nearing the end of its course. Gifu has reached the average level of the whole country and can no longer be considered a leprosy prevalent prefecture. It must be noted however, that the incidence of leprosy in Koreans living in the prefecture is abnormally high. It can be assumed that the number of undetected cases has decreased sharply due to the program of early examination and detection.
It has been said that there are about 15, 000 leprosy patients, including undetected cases, in Japan but it is believed that this number is too high and ca. 13, 000 (1.46per 10, 000) is considered more closer to the actual number.

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