, 1909-05-01

bOLue QlSLAAC6 from Lu0 LONu.
The old Danish naIue "Spedalskhed"
means ''Hospitalskhed," hospital sickness,
and means specially, that il WAS then the
only sickness whose patients were to be
placed in hospitals.
There have been formerly in Denmark ut
least twenty leper as]yIuus, or so-called "St.
Georges Yards" called so because they
were under the protection OF st. George,
the saint who killed the Dragon, which was
the leprosy.
Most Of them were founded in the last
part ot'the 18Th century, and they were
closed in 1912, when they had fulfilled their
task OF stamping out leprosy, which never
siueo has got u Guoti Z ugaiu i'll Denmark.
The rules of isolation were everywhere
most strictly observed. l will tell you
something Of the singular ceremonies con-
neoted with the leper's Punishment from
society. Firstly the suspected patient was
examined by q jury Of surgeons, who, at-
ter examination, drew up q document, which
was sent to the mayor Of the town, whose
duty it was to inform the priest Of the par
ish, who then from the pulpit announced
the coming exclusion Of the leper from hu-
man society.
They sent then to the lepor a special
mantle, which he should afterwards always
use SO as to be distinguishubIe from healthy
persons, With this mantle on his shoulders
tho unfortunate Ieper then on his own fu-
neral day, walked up to the church III the
midst Of u procession Of priests, and accom-
pnuied by his relatives, friends aud neigh
bours, who wished to show the living corpse
the last lonour5.
At the church the patient had to hear,
with veilod face and isolated from the pub
lie, like the dead in his coffin, the mass
for the dead. After the mass the priest
gave him his hood, which should cover his
poor spoiled face, Ais gloOeS, with which he
should always cover his mutiiated hands,
his rattle, with which he had to warn away
all passers-by his belt and his AnJe, and
led him finally out into the church-yard.
Here the priest took 3 shoyelfuls OF earth,
omptied them over his head, and said Only
friend, you are dead for this world" then
pointed heavenwurds and exhOrtod hlm 10
patience.
Thereupon the procession took It's way
again in the direction Of the hospital, at
the entrance to which the Kings Bailiff and
the Hospital Director awaited them. The
bailiff asked the leper his intentions, and he
answered, that having been declared u leper
he had come to ask, rs u citizen of the
town, his admission into the hospital to use
his rights there. Thereupon the chaplain
approached AMI let the leper make oath, with
his naked hands on the holy books, to keep
the friurs' promises OF obedience, poverty
and chastity.
He could then only leave the hospital
again under observation of many precou-
tiOnS.
/. It was forbidden to enter churches.
public places, mills and bakeries or 9TH
or places, where many people assembled.
4. 1t was forbidden to wash the hands. Oh
any utensils, in the wells or fountains and
to drink from the public cups.
3. 1t was forbidden TO touch any object
he wished to buy without a little stick.
4. He should always walk in the middle of
the street and shake the rattle to warn
away other people. and never speak
with them unless against the wind, to
avoid that his breath or his expirations
could be feared.
5. 1t was forbidden to pass any path, or
bridge, or along balusters without
gloves.
6. 1t was forbidden to touch any child or
to give it anything touched by the sick
person.
7. 1t was forbidden to eat or drink in the
company of other persons than the