Reaching for Life. Hands--Black Hands--Ravaged by leprosy, literally reach for life in this dramatic scene taken at the Bibanga Leper Camp in the Belgian Congo. "Life" in this case is the fruit of the Chaulmoogra oil or hydnocarpus tree which can be seen directly above the outstretched hands. Chaulmoogra oil is the principal medicine used in the direct treatment of leprosy, and, apparently, has been successful in many cases. Note how the fingers of the lepers show the ravage of the disease.

Associated Press · [ca. October 1939]

[Information from item housing] Leprosy