This episode features an artist, Isabelle, portrayed by Denise Crosby ("Lt. Yar" on Star Trek the Next Generation).
The artist is a woman who unfortunately contracted leprosy at some point. She disguises it by wearing long dresses and long gloves. Once the news gets out on her condition, the townsfolk panic and want to run her out of town. A pregnant Dr. Mike is torn between her inclinations for tolerance and helping out Isabelle and being mindful of her pregnancy and the moblike intolerance of the residence of Colorado Springs.
Crosby was several years removed from her stint on Star Trek TNG and plays Isabelle as someone who is resigned to not simply hide away from society despite her condition and the reactionary scorn it invites.
This is a pretty good episode, which also functions as a kind of AIDS/HIV allegory for the 19th century.
The artist is a woman who unfortunately contracted leprosy at some point. She disguises it by wearing long dresses and long gloves. Once the news gets out on her condition, the townsfolk panic and want to run her out of town. A pregnant Dr. Mike is torn between her inclinations for tolerance and helping out Isabelle and being mindful of her pregnancy and the moblike intolerance of the residence of Colorado Springs.
Crosby was several years removed from her stint on Star Trek TNG and plays Isabelle as someone who is resigned to not simply hide away from society despite her condition and the reactionary scorn it invites.
This is a pretty good episode, which also functions as a kind of AIDS/HIV allegory for the 19th century.
