Alice Ball was an African American chemist who developed the first successful treatment for those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Ball was born in 1892 in Seattle Washington. She excelled in school even from a young age; later going on to be the first African American and first woman to graduate with a M.S degree from the College of Hawaii (University of Hawaii). With her research Alice was able to use oil from the chaulmoogra tree to create the first injectable leprosy treatment. Alice Augusta Ball’s hard work and attention to detail led to a highly successful method that alleviated leprosy symptoms. “The Ball Method”. Unfortunately Ball died a year later at the age of 24. Although her life was cut short in a lab accident, Alice Ball created many stepping stones to helping aid leprosy and became an inspiration to many young people across the states.
https://www.biography.com/scientist/alice-ball
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4627984
February 24, 2021
This is incredible! I did not know that someone had discovered a way to treat leprosy. I think that everyone should learn about this amazing scientist.
xburritosx
March 1, 2021
Wow, this is really great! She is seriously amazing! I think it’s crazy that I’ve never heard of her before now! I think she needs to be better known because she was the first to do many things.
sportingelijah
March 5, 2021
It is amazing how a treat for leprosy was found, in old times leprosy was such and issue and thanks to Alice it isn’t an issue anymore.
Owls4ever
March 6, 2021
That is so cool! I did not think there was a treat for leprosy. It is also cool that she was “the first African American and first woman to graduate with a M.S degree from the College of Hawaii (University of Hawaii).” I did not know this. Good Job!