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Life
at Carville,
The National Leprosarium
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National
Hansen's Disease Museum
Elizabeth Schexnyder, Curator
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The
following is a set of 35 mm color slides shot around 1950.
They were donated to the museum by the family of a former
patient.
This
set of 200 slides was sold at the hospital as souvenirs
to outside visitors as well as patients who wanted to
show their families back home what life was like at Carville.
Note: The Personnel Dining Room, is the present-day home
to the museum.
Chances
are that the slides were sold at a souvenir shop operated
by patient entrepreneurs in the Carville Mall
(Building 24). Its obvious from the running social
commentary that the captions were written by the patients
themselves.
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With
this sunrise we take you on a tour of the only leprosarium
in the continental United States, located at Carville, Louisiana |
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Entrance
to the leprosarium.
Many a H.D. patient enter through this gate never no more
to pass out. Some made their home here for life, others
died and were buried in the hospital cemetery.
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Administration
Building.
All
patients who enter gate are compelled to surrender their
baggage for inspection, knives, guns, etc. are not permitted
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Home
of the medical officer.
Dr.
F.A. Johanson has been on the medical staff of the national
leprosarium for approximately 30 years. Will soon retire.
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Yours
truly himself.
Dr.
F.A. Johanson in uniform. His height is 6 feet 3 inches.
A very fine doctor and gentleman.
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Doctors
homes.
There
are five resident doctors on the leprosarium staff. This
is a view of their homes.
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Section
of grounds show store house in the back. This leprosarium
is situated on a plot of ground 400 acres large. |
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Laundry
and Power plant.
This
power plant supplies the entire colony with electricity,
laundry likewise, washing for the entire colony.
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Water
Tower.
Water
from the filtering plant is pumped into this tank. It
supplies the entire colony with fresh water.
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Farm
land.
A
few acres are used to raise crops, corn, hay, soy beans,
etc., to feed dairy herd.
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Dairy.
The
dairy buildings and silos. There are approximately 200
cows. At times there is not enough milk to supply all
needs.
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Personnel
dining room.
There
are approximately 400 persons on the personnel staff,
each eats one meal a day in the dining room. Visiting
doctors and nurses also eat there.
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Protestant
Chapel.
This
chapel and the Catholic Chapel were built and paid for
with funds contributed by religiious people in the U.S.A.
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Catholic
Chapel.
Seventy
five percent of Carville patients are Catholic. Masses
are said every morning of each day. Sunday's twice.
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Sisters
home.
Four
sisters of the Sister's of Charity volunteered their services
to nurse the sufferer of leprosy when everyone else refused.
1896 four sisters arrived here. Since the staff has increased
to 21.
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Sisters
going to work.
Every
morning they arise at 4 A.M. They attend mass at 6 A.M.
Breakfast at 7 A.M. then off to work they go to the Infirmary.
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Looking
at front of the infirmary.
The
only one of its kind in the continental United States.
Built by the State of Louisiana for leprosy patients in
the year 1894.
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Record
Room.
Every
patient that enters this leprosarium must give the record
of his birth, where his home is, citizen or alien, etc.
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Chart
room in the infirmary.
Each
and every hospitalized patient's record is kept in this
room. The nurses and doctors have the records at their
fingertips always.
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Dental
Clinic.
One
resident dentist does all the dental work for the entire
patients. He's kept busy at all times, 6 days a week.
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Pharmacy
in infirmary.
This
pharmacy does business just like the pharmacy in your
town. Patients must get prescriptions from doctors and
present at the window for their medicines.
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Physical
Therapy Room.
This
public health nurse is in charge of all the electric appliances
used in treating patients with crippled parts on body,
mostly hands and feet.
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Hydrotherapy
Room.
Public
Health nurse making adjustments before giving hydrotherapy
treatment.
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Blood
Chemistry Room.
Every
day in this room blood is being taken for test from patients.
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Corridors
outside the infirmary.
There
are approximately 2 1/2 miles of these corridors on two
floors. Patients use bicycles to travel back and forth
from their rooms and the infirmary.
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Entrance
to Cafeteria.
Through
these doors enters at least 350 patients to eat. Meals
are served cafeteria style, Breakfast, dinner and supper.
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Cafeteria.
This
cafeteria has a seating capacity for 400 patients. Meals
are served cafeteria style. Medicine is also given out.
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Food
carts.
These
carts carry the food to blind patients living in blind
houses; also the carts go to the infirmary with food for
the hospitalized patients.
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Patients
standing on the levee of the Mississippi river watching
a submarine pass by. It's not very often patients see a
sight like this. |
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On
the levee by the lake.
Patients
often come here to spend the day. Many a picnic was held
on the levee of Lake Johanson.
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Lake
Johanson.
Patients
enjoying a day of fishing. This is a man made lake and
is named in honor of our M.O.C. Dr. Frederick A. Johanson.
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These
two boats are trying to find out which of them will get
to nowhere first. Lake is approximately 500 feet long by
250 feet wide. |
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Golf
link.
Many
of our patients play golf. Some are really good. We have
a boy patient who is considered a champ on the links.
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Airplane
made by a patient.
We
have other patients making belts, rugs, pottery, knitting,
pictures and woodworking craft at this hospital.
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A
patient points his stick at the names of the first patients
that died here. From 1894 to 1922 there have been 125
deaths. All are buried on this old site.
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Attending
funeral and paying last respects to one of our departed
patients. Cemetery is located on hospital grounds. |
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Grave
of Sister Zoe.
Sister
Zoe (former chief nurse) is the only Sister of Charity
to be buried in the cemetery. It was her request to be
buried among the patients she served.
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Moss
covered oaks.
Patients
having a picnic under the shade of the moss covered oak
trees.
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Amusement
hall showing covered walks connections.
This
is an air view showing walks from north to south connecting
with recreation building.
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School
buildings.
These
quonset huts were recently erected for the purpose of
school houses to teach the children who are victims of
this disease.
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Amusement
hall.
This
is a front view of the recreation building, in it are
theater, reading room, library and hospital canteen.
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Memorial
Day Services.
On
this special occassion everyone takes part. The American
Legion boys march to the cemetery. Services are said by
both chaplains.
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Reading
room.
Patiens
in the library reading books and newspapers. There is
approximately 10,000 books in this library.
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Hosptial
post office.
This
post office is a branch of the regular post office located
at Carville, Louisiana.
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Hospital
lounge.
Two
patients reading newspapers in hospital lounge. Backs
are turned so not to be recognized because of stigma.
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Canteen.
Patients
enjoy a cup of coffee in the hospital canteen. This is
operated by patients. Profits are used to pay for sports
and entertainment.
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Mexican
program.
Mexican
Independence Day the Mexican patients give the entire
colony a treat with one of their colorful demonstration
of Mexican dances.
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Nativity
play.
This
is a colorful picture of the annual Christmas play. It's
an all patient cast directed by Sister.
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Patients
operate a dry cleaning establishment. They dry clean suits
and dresses for the patients. |
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Gardens.
This
garden is made from empty Coco Cola bottles discarded
by the hospital canteen. Other gardens have different
designs.
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Cottage.
The
married patients live in cottages. There are approximately
24 cottages on the colony grounds.
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Cottages.
This
is Main Street on Cottage Row. Many of these cottages
were built by the patients themselves.
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Party.
A
group of married patients enjoying food at a community
party held in one of the cottages.
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Water
tower.
A
patient climbed the tower to take pictures of the entire
leprosarium.
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National
Hansens Disease Museum
Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM
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Group
tours & presentations available by appointment
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Elizabeth
Schexnyder:
Curator
Physical address:
5445 Point Clair Road, Carville
Mail: 1770
Physicians Drive
Baton
Rouge, LA 70816
Tele:
(225) 642-1950
Email:
NHDPmuseum@hrsa.gov
Web: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/nhdp/NHD_MUSEUM_HISTORY.htm
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