Leper colony

In a leper colony (also leprosarium or Leprosenhaus ) were isolated from the Middle Ages to the modern era of leprosy sufferers from the rest of the population to prevent the further spread of the disease.

History of leprosaria

Even in ancient times were ejected by skin diseases Disfigured by the Community and one turned his eyes away for fear of infection.

Describe the purity laws in the Old Testament Book of Leviticus 13:46 as the god has willed to behave as unclean Stated by the priest: The leper ... to wear torn clothes and let the hair unkempt head, he should conceal his beard and cry " Unclean, unclean " ... He shall dwell apart, outside the camp, he should be stopped. The resulting belief in the guilt of the patients resulted in the Christian countries in later times the special measures.

In the year 583 a council of bishops in Lyon decided to establish the first leprosaria. Through these houses lepers should be isolated and live outside of monasteries and towns. The findings created a priest and a doctor, who then were teaching the patients in the leprosaria. The oldest leprosaria in Central Europe were in Metz, Verdun and Maastricht. The Third Lateran Council decided in 1179 that there should be leprosy colonies allowed to build their own chapels and churches and to have their own priests as long as they do not interfere with other parishes. They were also exempt from the tithe. Until then, the leprosaria had been limited in the Holy Roman Empire to the Bishop cities in the West. Lepers in other areas had been left to themselves. The decision of the Lateran Council laid the foundation for the establishment of the Leprosenwesens. With the flourishing of the cities in the 12th century and the general population growth in the 13th century the number of lepers increased. In addition, the narrowness of the cities and the often poor hygienic conditions promoted the spread of infectious diseases. The leprosaria were often turned into the " disease-free " time to hospitals and served the poorer classes as a hospice. Leprosaria were also called " infirmary ". Siech meant in Middle High German, ill ',' faint 'or' leprous ', so had very general meaning, but was partially "sick" displaced in the late Middle High German by the word. Infirmary was a generic term for Seuchenhospitäler for leprosaria and emerging in the late 14th century Pesthäuser. The leprosaria were mostly on large arterial roads, while the Pesthäuser were completely isolated. The last leper colony in Europe was in Tichilesti on the edge of the Danube Delta in Romania.

Situation of leprosy colonies and care for the sick

Originally leprosaria were standing isolated wooden huts. Then there were often several huts around a chapel. Later, they were often still in isolierterer location, such as on islands such as Molokai or even on busy streets or pilgrimage routes, so that the sick, their only source of income was the charity of their fellow citizens came upon better ways to beg.

The care of the sick in the first place was for the church, which took care of food and clothing for the sick. So the sick were recognized as such, they had to wear special clothes, often horns, bells or rattles.

Leprosy colonies in Germany

The leprosarium St. Jost Trier in 1283 was first mentioned. This leper colony had its own cemetery, which is called Leprosenfriedhof. The leper in Bad Wurzach was first documented in 1355. At the gates of the cathedral on the old trade route from Munster to Friesland existed a home for lepers, the kids hus (, children's house ') was called. Today it is the name of a district of Münster. The existence of the home is occupied since 1586. Today, the only leprosy museum in Germany that evokes the leprosarium as well as the history and the fight against leprosy.