By The Brilliant Chemist Who Revolutionized Leprosy Treatment
The Legacy of Alice Ball: The Brilliant Chemist Who Revolutionized Leprosy Treatment
​The field of pharmaceutical chemistry was forever changed by the brilliant work of Alice Augusta Ball. Born in Seattle, Washington, in 1892, she was the daughter of Laura and James P. Ball Jr. Throughout her short life, she shattered racial and gender barriers, leaving behind a medical legacy that saved countless lives.
​Academic Excellence and Historic Milestones
​Alice Ball demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for science from a young age. She attended the University of Washington, where she earned a degree in pharmaceutical chemistry in 1912, followed by a degree in pharmacy in 1914. Seeking to advance her education, she moved to the College of Hawaii, which later became the University of Hawaii, to pursue graduate studies in chemistry.
​On June 1, 1915, Ball made history by becoming both the first woman and the first African American to graduate with a Master of Science degree in chemistry from the university. Her brilliance was recognized immediately, and during that same academic year, she became the first female chemistry instructor at the institution.
​A Breakthrough in Hansen Disease Treatment
​While completing her graduate studies, Ball was assigned a research project focusing on chaulmoogra oil. For years, this oil had been used to treat Hansen disease, which is commonly known as leprosy. However, the oil was naturally thick and sticky, making it incredibly difficult to apply effectively or digest.
​Ball worked under immense pressure to find a way to make the oil injectable so that the human body could absorb it. She successfully developed a chemical process that isolated the active ingredients, creating the first effective treatment for leprosy.
​Sadly, her intense research took a massive toll on her health. She became severely ill and returned home to Seattle, where she died on December 31, 1916, at just 24 years old. Reports later indicated that her illness resulted from inhaling toxic chlorine gas during a classroom teaching demonstration in Honolulu.
​Stolen Credit and Belated Recognition
​Following her untimely passing, the chairman of the chemistry department at the university continued her work. He claimed the credit for her research and distributed the medicine under his own name. This injectable solution, which became known as the Ball Method, successfully cured numerous patients at the Kalaupapa isolation hospital. It remained the gold standard for leprosy treatment until the 1940s, and medical journals noted its use in remote areas as late as 1999.
​For decades, Ball was denied the recognition she rightfully deserved. However, historians and researchers eventually uncovered her vital contributions. In the year 2000, the University of Hawaii formally honored Alice Augusta Ball, celebrating her as one of the most distinguished and impactful graduates in the history of the institution.
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