To all:- Several articles have been received from Victor Luce, a Census Committee member, about the former leper hospital at Tracadie, New Brunswick. Hopefully the documentary will be aired again. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> =================================== A word or two -- The Halifax Herald - May 17, 2000 TREATED LIKE LEPERS A rather startling theme has cropped up among those scheduled for television viewing in the near future. A documentary, Island of Shadows: D'Arcy Island Leper Colony, 1891-1924, is to be aired on May 17 and is expected to bring a disturbing revelation to Canadians of yet another unfortunate chapter in the nation's history. Leprosy is not a prevalent disease in Canada, although most of the people of this country are aware of its fearsomeness if only because of the numerous references to it in the Bible. Even so, Canada has not been immune, and at one time not only had legislation governing the care of victims of the disease, but also supported two leper hospitals, one in British Columbia and the other at Tracadie, N.B. The forthcoming documentary is the story of the one on the West Coast, where most of the patients were of Chinese origin. Because of their affliction, virtually were condemned to live out their days in the segregation of what seemed to be an escape-proof prison. The leprosarium at Tracadie was very different in that most of the patients were white and the care accorded them was hospital-like. All of that, however, is now in the past, the availability of sulfa drugs having contributed to great changes in the treatment of lepers. Indeed, it is of interest to note that the announcement of the documentary about the D'Arcy Island leper colony comes at a time when word is being received of the closure of the last leper hospital in the United States, the institution at Carville, in Louisiana. Canadians may prefer to turn away from viewing the story of yet another blemish on the pages of the national history. Nevertheless, the fact remains and they who would be fully informed of the country's past cannot ignore it.