Carville: Remembering Leprosy in America

Appendix B: Quotation from Plaque at Entrance to National Hansen’s Disease Museum at Carville

{ 189 } Appendix B QUOTATION FROM PLAQUE AT ENTRANCE TO NATIONAL HANSEN’S DISEASE MUSEUM AT CARVILLE Welcome to a community unlike any other in the world, many of whose residents experienced two opposite emotional extremes—one is extraordinary physical suffering, separation of families, endless psychological stress, emotional breakdown, and another is security, healing and comfort—a haven—a place to hide. Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, has traditionally and historically carried an emotionally damaging stigma. Through the ages there has been widespread misconception about what has been called history’s most dreaded disease. The ancient scourge can cause disfigurement, paralysis, disability, loss of sensation, and mental anguish. Persons affected by leprosy have experienced ostracism, imprisonment, and rejection for no other reason than because they were diagnosed with this most misunderstood of diseases. Numerous physicians, therapists, nurses, scientists and support staff have collaborated in the training, rehabilitation, education, research, and treatment at the Center through the years. This is the place where several medical breakthroughs were discovered beginning with the sulfones in 1941, the first effective treatment of leprosy. Stories of tragedy, breakups, joy, sadness, loneliness, self-sacrifice, love, hate, misery, isolation, companionship, hope, injury, faith, outrage , despair, success, doubt, hopelessness, anger, and imprisonment make this place a unique American true story about individuals caught in a microbes versus medicine battle unmatched anywhere. { 190 } Appendix B ...