“The Purge”: A Legal and Medical Expertise of Leprosy in Auvergne in the Middle Ages
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At the beginning of the 12th century, Auvergne witnessed the recurrence of a disease that had disappeared for several centuries: leprosy. The endemic disease compelled local authorities to react to reduce its propagation. The authorities of Montferrand were the best organized with a unique court called ‘the Purge’. The origins of this court are uncertain and it is not known how it functioned until the end of the 13th century or the beginning of the 14th century when it was given official status in the form of a royal court. Held and presided over by the consulate of Montferrand, the purpose of the Purge was to summon, examine, judge, and then isolate the lepers residing not only in Auvergne but also in neighboring areas. This medical system functioned in accordance with a precise organization chart composed of notaries, bailiffs, clerks, sergeants, prosecutors and judges, but above all physicians and surgeons who were experts on leprosy. Indeed, consultations and the ensuing reports drawn up by medical experts were the essential element of the procedure. This illustrates the key position held by these scholars since it was their responsibility to determine whether the accused person was leprous or not. This jury of experts was therefore essential to the Purge, which could not pass sentences or function without it. If in certain regions examining lepers repelled practitioners, in Auvergne that was not the case. The office offered by the royal court of Montferrand attracted clinicians in the long term. It obviously brought esteem but above all it guaranteed considerable remuneration to those who examined suspected lepers. Finally, to ensure total availability of its experts, the Purge did not hesitate to prosecute incautious physicians who practiced without its authorization, which again proves the usefulness of these special counselors.
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