Fractured Understandings of Leprosy in Bombay City, 1867–1933

Abstract

Between 1867 and 1933, the understanding of leprosy within the colonial medical establishment in Bombay city was fractured on two issues: whether leprosy was contagious and whether individuals with leprosy should be segregated. This article explores how legislation paved the way for resolving these issues in Bombay between 1867 and 1933. Furthermore, the article seeks to problematize the notion of “diseased bodies” or “lepers” through legislation to protect healthy individuals from possible degeneration. Leprosy in Bombay reflected the anxieties of the city's business elite who were averse to accommodating patients from other parts of British India. In addition, the article studies leprosy and “lepers” by analyzing archival documents and public health reports within the context of Bombay city.