CO129-091 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [1-3] — Page 364

3

352

:

daily small allow ances

ances of rice for their support but are permitted at the same time to wander

about the streets to the great annoyance of shop. kups and passers by, from whom they solicit almo.

Although this lazaretto.

was intended originally

to secluse its inmates from society, yet through mismanagement, it not only does not effect this object, but through the con-rivance of the proper

authorities, the police make a practice of extorting large bribes from the rich, who, if discovered to be affected with this disease, are seized and

threatened to be put into that place of filth and

contagion, unless they pay handsomely for exemption. The dermand is paid, and their name

the

Enrolled in the books as being there, which

with

a

ticket they receive, prevent any further onolestation. Leprosy is regarded as so unclean

and contagions a discose, that when a family or a branch of a family, ismfected with it, it shuts them out from all direct. intercourse with their relations and friends. Thus a foster banishes his child, and the children their parent,

for they dare not eat or live with him, but they

also should be contaminated; and thus these

poor creatures are avoided by all and futied by nove. Besides the lazar house, there is a part of the city appropriated for the lepers, who there live and trade together, not daring

to nitermarry with others. I have been informed

were in

by

-good authority, that while the severect prohibitions of Commiciones fin force, that these people bought and sold

opium with great profit, and without any danger of detection. Leprosy is undoubtedly