近年來癩病相關議題成為國內外史學研究焦點。本研究就日治時期臺灣癩病醫學論文之內容與性質進行系統性分析，以釐清公共衛生防治與科學研究間之關係。1930、40年代強制隔離的施行，使樂生院內的各類醫學知識得以大量累積，其中最具特色者莫過於關於臺灣人及日臺差異的種族研究。本文從國際癩病研究趨勢、日本醫學傳統、臺灣殖民科學研究，以及樂生院醫官的專業與社會關切等因素，分析此一種族論述內容與功能上的特殊性。

There has been growing historical interest in colonial leprosy work in the early twentieth century, but the relationship between medical research and anti-leprosy work is yet to be systematically explored. The present study focuses on medical research conducted in the Governmental Rakuseiin Hospital in colonial Taiwan in order to examine the relationship between public health practice and scientific research. The compulsory segregation of a population of lepers in Taiwan made possible the mass production of scientific knowledge, the most characteristic and interesting feature of which was the study of leprosy in terms of race. This article argues that the content and function of this distinctive racial discourse can be understood by taking into account international research trends, such as the Japanese medical tradition, the development of Taiwanese colonial science, and the professional and social concerns of the colonial leprosy researchers.

殖民醫學; 樂生院; 癩病; 種族; 強制隔離

colonial medicine; Rakuseiin Hospital; leprosy; race; compulsory segregation