Lazarettos, rents and charity

legislative and governmental initiative to confine lepers in the State of Boyacá (Colombia), 1859-1881

Abstract

This article analyzes three elements that predominated in the discussions on public health by the political authorities in the State of Boyacá during the second half of the 19th century: the degredo or Lazaretto, mortuary income and charity. The study addresses the legislative and governmental attempts to contain and exile lepers, highlighting the political claim and the financing strategy to allocate economic resources by the State. Government reports, regulations, the police code and the charity code are analyzed and compared with the budget laws and the cash status of the general administration of finance. The study concludes that beyond the medical and religious discussions, the political authorities established a significant number of laws and regulations to regulate the disease in legal terms that failed to materialize.