By James Martin, About.com
Amsterdam Picture: Entrance to a Home for Lepers, as signified by the figures above the door.
James Martin"Every Wednesday they were allowed into town to beg for alms, but they had to wear a large black coat, a big hat with a white ribbon and they had to use the rattle constantly. It wasn't until the end of the 19th century, that this disease was banished from the Netherlands."
Also: "The plague was seen as the justified anger of God against mankind to punish them for their sinful way of life." Seems our beliefs haven't been changed all that much by our increasing knowledge of the world.
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