13:30 〜 13:45
[053] The Changes and Characteristics of the Treatment Environment of Hansen's Disease Sanatoria in Japan
キーワード：Hansen’s disease, Leprosy, Sanatorium, Medical facility, Isolation policy
Hansen’s disease, historically known as leprosy, was once considered incurable and patients were isolated due to its infectious nature. It is no longer a dangerous epidemic, but 13 national sanatoria still remain in Japan. From a global perspective, the use of sanatoria as isolation facilities began in the mid-19th century and increased worldwide until the early 20th century. However, most of them were gradually closed after a cure was found. This study aims to clarify the uniqueness of the Japanese treatment environment surrounding Hansen’s disease through comparison with other countries while focusing on the relationship between policy and changes in treatment facilities.
Throughout the history of Hansen’s disease, the Japanese government had a different approach than other countries regarding infection countermeasures, while being aware of overseas trends and contemporary research. Meanwhile, the treatment environment for Hansen’s disease in Japan changed dramatically both before and after the introduction of the isolation policy. Initially, public sanatoria accommodated only vagrant patients, but with the strengthening of the isolation policy, they gradually became concentration camps. The policy meant that patients were excluded from society. Furthermore, the isolation policy was maintained even after effective treatment development. A large-scale campaign, involving ordinary citizens which aimed at tracking patients and separating them from their communities was organized, and it deepened prejudice against the disease and greatly affected the prolonged isolation policy.
Based on this historical background, this study classified the treatment environmental history of Hansen’s disease into the following five periods: (i) before the investigation of pathogens, (ii) introduction period of isolation policies, (iii) before the discovery of cure, (iv) period of treatment establishment, (v) transition period from medical facilities to nursing facilities. Japanese sanatoria began as facilities for relief for the poor, and finally became nursing facilities through forced detention facilities for lifelong isolation of patients. In the process, a living space similar to the outside was created inside the sanatoria, and residents who had gotten new families and jobs there began to focus on improving their living environment.
Throughout the history of Hansen’s disease, the Japanese government had a different approach than other countries regarding infection countermeasures, while being aware of overseas trends and contemporary research. Meanwhile, the treatment environment for Hansen’s disease in Japan changed dramatically both before and after the introduction of the isolation policy. Initially, public sanatoria accommodated only vagrant patients, but with the strengthening of the isolation policy, they gradually became concentration camps. The policy meant that patients were excluded from society. Furthermore, the isolation policy was maintained even after effective treatment development. A large-scale campaign, involving ordinary citizens which aimed at tracking patients and separating them from their communities was organized, and it deepened prejudice against the disease and greatly affected the prolonged isolation policy.
Based on this historical background, this study classified the treatment environmental history of Hansen’s disease into the following five periods: (i) before the investigation of pathogens, (ii) introduction period of isolation policies, (iii) before the discovery of cure, (iv) period of treatment establishment, (v) transition period from medical facilities to nursing facilities. Japanese sanatoria began as facilities for relief for the poor, and finally became nursing facilities through forced detention facilities for lifelong isolation of patients. In the process, a living space similar to the outside was created inside the sanatoria, and residents who had gotten new families and jobs there began to focus on improving their living environment.