[The progress of National Leprosarium].

Leprosy Prevention Law was proclaimed in 1907 in Japan. According to the regulation, Leprosy Control Policy has got under way by the Government. In 1909, five leprosaria were established in the leprosy endemic areas by local government to admit vagrant leprosy patients who were estimated as one thousand and two hundred. The vagabonds had many troubles, especially, they often escaped from leprosaria. Dr. Kensuke Mitsuda who was one of the directors of leprosaria suggested the Government to establish the National Leprosarium in small island to admit them. In 1930, the Government had Ten-year Program to eradicate leprosy and decided to set up ten thousand beds in existing leprosaria and newly-established National Leprosarium. The plan has been almost completed by the construction of five National Leprosaria by 1940. The number of in-patients was 9,125, including 4,389 in five national institutions. In 1941, five local leprosaria were transferred their superintendence to the Central Government, after then, in 1943 and 1944, two National Leprosaria were established. The total number of National Leprosarium in Japan came to thirteen in 1945.