 In July 1949 it was reported that sulphetrone had "already resulted in a remarkable improvement among patients" on Fantome Island.There were 63 patients on Fantome Island in October 1949, and with the introduction of the new treatments, the death rate fell and discharges increased.There had only been three discharges of Hansen's disease patients from Fantome Island from 1940 the end of 1948; compared to 22 discharges from 1949 to the end of 1952.