Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society Logo Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society for Research, Rehabilitation and Education in Leprosy
(ALH-RRE Society)
Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society Logo Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society for Research, Rehabilitation and Education in Leprosy (ALH-RRE Society)

Museum

Acworth Leprosy Museum

A Unique Project in India


Biogas and Sewage Farming Unit at Matunga Leper Asylum
INDIA'S FIRST BIO-GAS AND SEWAGE FARMING UNIT AT THE "MATUNGA LEPER ASYLUM"

The "Homeless Leper Asylum" occupied 11½ acres of uncultivated land in Wadala, Mumbai. Its landscape was dominated by vast stretches of rice fields and the Matunga salt pans. However, there was one serious shortcoming – the system of sewage disposal at the Asylum was very crude.

The bodily waste of around 300 leprosy-affected inmates was discharged directly onto the grounds, from where it overflowed onto adjacent farms and homesteads. Neighbours found this extremely offensive and threatened Municipal Commissioner Mr. Acworth (the founder of the Asylum) with litigation.

Acworth referred the problem to Charles Carkeet James (1863–1942), the Municipal Drainage Engineer. After a series of experiments in 1894–1895, James perfected a Sewage Disposal System that is considered remarkable by sanitary engineers and public health experts even today.

Charles Carkeet James
Charles Carkeet James – Municipal Drainage Engineer

An adjoining tract of land was purchased for a new Sewage Disposal System and farm. Raw sewage from the Asylum’s kitchens and latrines was channelled into covered chunam-lined tanks which James called "Settling Tanks", now better known as Septic Tanks.

These tanks enabled anaerobic bacterial action, producing inflammable Hydrogen Sulphide gas. Chunam (lime) was used to help organic matter settle at the bottom as sludge.

The result was a purified form of excreta-sewage which could be spread over the farm as high-quality manure. Soil fertility improved dramatically. Crops grown included vegetables, maize, jowar, and fodder such as Lucerne grass.

The grass was sold to the Municipality for its stables, and the proceeds were used to construct additional wards and amenities for the Asylum inmates.

After successfully managing sewage disposal, James went a step further by utilising Hydrogen Sulphide tank gas for power generation. He covered the liquefying tanks, constructed a gas holder and purifier, and installed two pipes – one for filling the gas holder and the other for gas delivery.

The tank gas was utilised in three ways:

  1. To actuate a gas engine
  2. To light the Asylum compound and buildings
  3. For cooking

Thus, India’s first biogas was successfully harvested in October 1902 at the Homeless Leper Asylum.

India's First Biogas Unit
India’s First Biogas Generation Unit – October 1902


Late Mr. Sharad S. Naik,
Former Hon. Secretary,
ALH - RRE Society

The idea of a Leprosy Museum was broached by late Sharad S. Naik, Founder Secretary of ALH-RRE Society

Acworth Leprosy Museum is the joint project of Acworth Municipal Hospital for Leprosy and Acworth Leprosy Hospital Research Society, Wadala, Mumbai.

The Museum is the only one of its kind in India.  It is dedicated to millions of leprosy sufferers throughout history, to the philanthropists and Social workers who ameliorated their sufferings, and pays tribute to those whose labours delivered remedies and other benefits to the most marginalized of human society.

The Museum has been set up to tell people about :

The Homeless Leper Asylum, Bombay 1890

Leprosy The Disease

Time Line of Developments in Treatment

Philanthropic Efforts and Approaches

Self Settled Colonies

Literature and Leprosy

Archival Records

Offcial Reports

Leprosy Under the Legal Gaze

Leprosy- Health Education

Modules

Virtual Tour

The Museum displays consist of the following modules :

The Homeless Leper Asylum, Bombay 1890

Includes

  • Why and How it was founded to deal with the perceived danger from leprosy beggars.
  • Birth and early years of the Asylum with important milestones
  • Highlights unique features such as - Respect for all religions, No rigid segrigation of sexes, All communities in bombay contibuted to it's establishment

Leprosy The Disease

Leprosy as a disease has been stigmatized since ancient times due to the repulsive sight of ulcers and deformities that the sufferers often developed.

Includes

  • Its Manifestations;
  • Concepts in Indian Medical Traditions;
  • Concepts in Modern Medicine.

Charak Samhita (c 200 BCE) elobrates on Nidana (Pathology & Diagonsis)

Time Line of Developments in Treatment

For over three millennia, the favored treatment was oil massage. Although Armauer Hansen of Norway identified the leprosy bacillus in 1873, a scientifically proven therapy was not found till the late 1940s.

Includes

  • Historical Perspectives :
    Main therapies from 1854 to 1982 :
      Experiments and Results, such as:  Oil of Hydnocarpus wigthiana (Kowti)
    Experiments of Dr. Bhau Daji-1868-1872.  
    Oil of “Gurjan”, experiments of Dr. J. Dougall-1874.                 
    Vaccine Therapies: 1899 to the present.
  • Modern Perspectives

Philanthropic Efforts and Approaches

Includes

  • Foundation of Some Historic Institutions and Organizations
    Set up by -Christian Missions; Princely States;
    Local and Central Governments; Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave;
    Endowed by Wealthy Philanthropists - Brief Histories with milestones
  • Individuals:
    Write up on Personalities such as Shri Vinoba Bhave, Mahatma Gandhiji, Father Damien, Dr.Hansen Dr.Vendye Carter etc.

Sir Dinshah Manockji Petit Leper Asylum, Ratnagiri, 1873

Self Settled Colonies

Includes

  • Brief History- Self Rehabilitation by Affected People.
  • In India there are around 700 such self settled colonies

Literature and Leprosy

Includes

  • It is no wonder that a disease, which has brought out contradictory human reactions, has been a subject of literary works, such as Religious, Biographies, Autobiographies, Plays, Films, Novels & Dramas.

Archival Records

Includes

  • Records dating from 1860 till 1950 from States Archives of Maharashtra,
    Also copies of leprosy archives from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan state archives
  • Other Documents e.g., Medical, Social with special reference to India

Offcial Reports

Includes

  • Official Reports Pre- and Post- 1947
  • British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (BELRA)
  • Indian Council of BELRA (ICBELRA)
  • Indian Association of Leprologists (IAL)
  • International Organisations
  • League of Nations
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • International Leprosy Associations

Leprosy Under the Legal Gaze

Society's response to the repulsive appearance of affected persons was one of rejection and it even went to the extent of abetting suicide by patients.

Includes

  • The legislation enacted in the late 19th century justify segregation and institutionalisation.
  • Civil Law : Abetment to Suicide; Inheritance; Matrimonial
  • Criminal Law : Compulsory Segregation; Denial Of Certain Trades And Callings; Restrictions In Use of Public Transport
  • Mendicancy

Leprosy- Health Education

Modern focus is on health education of the public

Includes

  • Posters
  • Pamphlets
  • Booklets
  • Advertisements