Leprosário São Francisco de Assis (1923-1941): o espaço físico e as práticas médicas

Abstract

This work aims to analyze how the construction and operation of the Leprosário São Francisco de Assis, occurred between the years 1923 to 1941. Built in 1926 and officially inaugurated in 1929, in an area distant six kilometers from the city, this space had the purpose of isolate all lepers notified in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Leprosy, currently defined as a chronic and bacteriological disease, during the 1920’s, part of the group of endemic diseases that were viewed as a national problem and should be compulsorily notificated. The fight against leprosy, regulated by Decree No. 16,300, on December 31, 1923, was carried out through the compulsory isolation of patients in leprosarium or agricultural colonies. Following the national guideline, against the leprosy, Rio Grande do Norte built the leprosário São Francisco de Assis. Directed by Doctor Varela Santiago, this Leprosarium was built to offer patients a full life, with activities of work, leisure and proper treatment. In view of these points I asked what are the reasons for the construction of this isolation? How was this space structured physically? Who were your inmates? What are the practices developed in this space? The present work is based on the articulation of the History of Disease and the history of Space, so my objective is to investigate the changes and permanences that occurred in the concrete space, the Leprosário São Francisco de Assis, developed in the fight against leprosy. In order to respond to the proposed questions, I used as a source: newspapers from 1920 to 1950, published in different cities such as: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife and Maranhão; Official documents, such as Decrees, Resolutions and Message of Governors presented at the Legislative Assembly; Clinical documents present in the archive of the Leprosário São Francisco de Assis.