Before Leprosy became Hansen’s Disease

– by Elizabeth Schexnyder*

 

I’m always on the lookout for materials that have a connection to leprosy. In particular to the leprosarium established in Carville, Louisiana. Hansen’s disease is another name for leprosy.

Last year, a visitor from Philadelphia toured the National Hansen’s Disease Museum in Carville, where I am the curator.  He suggested that I look into the collections at the Mütter Museum and Historical Medical Library. He thought we had much in common.  And so we did.

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