SLACHTOFFERS VAN STAATSWAANZIN

In spite of all hope the Leprosy-ordinance in Surinam, dating from 1929, has proven to be utterly unsatisfactory. This law is not only antiquated and absurd, but in practice has done much harm and injustice. It is not founded upon the conviction that leprosy today in most cases can be cured completely, but on the contrary shows a total ignorance of the fact that only a definite form of leprosy is contagious during a certain period, the disease in general being much less dangerous than e.g. t.b.c. The organisation of the overstaffed leprosaria is also criticized. Patients should be allowed to be gainfully employed as soon as possible. The „Leprosy-board" which actually has the fate of all patients and arrested cases in its hands, has the dire obligation to inspect all these persons at regular intervals. Never internment in the leprosarium should be imposed by the Board as a measure of punishment of „difficult" persons.