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possible, the leprosy census was showing a rapid increase. All investigation

suggested that leprosy was introduced into the southern Sudan not much more than a quarter of a century ago and that it had reached a period at which either definite measures must be taken to check it or it would cripple a big percentage of the population.

In the original plan, diet was to play an important part in treatment, but it was considered that, in those areas at any rate, where the sleeping sickness regime had accustomed the people to segregation camps and settlements, in which the individual must support himself and often his dependents, lepers could become self-supporting in two years; and that, therefore, and especially since leprosy appeared to be increasing rapidly, it was better to segregate all the lepers of an area, and feed them on what they could grow for themselves than limit the numbers for the sake of a therapeutic diet.

It was reckoned that £ 8,000 spread over two years would cover the cost of dealing with all the lepers of the sleeping sickness areas, somef>, 000 from inform ¬ ation available, or about five sixths of all the lepers of the Sudan. The yearly maintenance and treatment of these lepers after the first two years was estimated to cost under £ 1,000.

Financial approval was obtained for this, and all arrangements made to start the scheme early in 1929.

The sleeping sickness areas for obvious reasons were chosen for the first experiments on a big scale, but the continuance of the colon}7 at Wau, which is outside the sleeping sickness area and where conditions are a good deal different to those further south, was also provided for. The intention was, if the

scheme proved successful in the sleeping sickness areas, and the Wau colony could be made self-supporting and popular, to bring the remaining areas where leprosy was common into line with the rest. It was felt that, even if treatment did not produce results expected of it, segregation alone must influence the control of the disease.

Patients are not compelled to enter.the colonies, but the influence of chiefs in the south is such that most in fact do come in. The people know the early signs of the disease well, and in the past man}7 seeking admission have been turned away. Local orderlies are quick at detecting the earliest signs, which are commonly erythematous patches, and at every sleeping sickness inspection, while the medical officer is looking for sleeping sickness, trained orderlies are looking for leprosy.

The administration of the colonies is almost the same as that of sleeping sickness settlements. Where the camp system has prevailed in the past, a leper camp is made; a settlement, where a settlement has prevailed. The distinction between the two is that in a camp, which'is only possible where numbers are limited, the patients are fed from communal cultivations worked by themselves. In settlements the individual grows his own crops, works once a week on a communal crop for the maintenance of new comers and the helpless, and for the provision of seed for the community. Fortunately physical exercise

is an important part of treatment.

The organisation of the settlements is also the same as that used for sleeping sickness. The lepers are divided into divisions, and sub-divided into sections, each having its headman and sub-headman who is himself a leper. The duty of these fe to report absentees, deaths, etc. and arrange the weekly working parties. The chief crops grown are cassava, telebun, dura, simsim and ground nuts. This is supplemented for the first year by a daily ration of two rottles of dura; the second year one rottle; the third year nothing but the usual weekly ration