Leprosy Flashcards
1
Q
What was leprosy?
A
A skin disease that led to fingers and toes falling off and hair falling out, eventually death.
2
Q
What happened if someone had leprosy?
A
separated from the community and made to live in a ‘leper house’. They would also wear a cloak and ring a bell. This was to warn others of their presence and to let them know to stay away. It was believed, at the time, that leprosy was highly contagious.
3
Q
Why were lepers not allowed in hospitals?
A
They were cared for in separate facilities called leper houses. This was because it was recognised that the illnesses could be spread quickly to other patients, even if it was not known how this happened.
