LEPROSY (le'p'r&syr), (Hcb. Isaw-rah'• ath, a smiting ; Gr. Neirpa, let-rah, from Xertr, a scale), is a name that was given by the Greek physicians to a scaly disease of the skin.
A General Term. During the dark ages it was indiscriminately applied to all chronic dis eases of the skin, and more particularly to ele phantiasis, to which latter, however, it does not bear the slightest resemblance.
1. In Modern Times. The disease, as it is known at the present day, comtnences by. an eruption of small reddish spots slightly raised above the level of the skin, and grouped in a circle. These spots are soon covered by a very thin, semi-transparent scale or epidermis, of a whitish color, and very smooth, which in a little time falls off, and leaves the skin beneath red and uneven. As the circles increase in diameter the skin recovers its healthy appearance towards the center; fresh scales are formed, which are now thicker, and superiinposed one above the other, especially at the edges, so that the center of the scale appears to be depressed. The scales are of grayish white color, and have something of a micaceous or pearly luster. The circles are generally of the size of t-.• quarter or half dollar, but they have been known to attain half a foot in diameter. The disease generally affects the knees and elbows, but sometimes it extends over the whole body; in which case the circles become confluent. It' does not at all affect the general health, and the only inconvenience it causes the patient is a slight itching when the skin is heated; or, in inveterate cases, when the skin about the joints is much thickened, it may in some degree impede the free motion of the limbs. It is com mon to both sexes, to almost all ages, and all ranks of society. It is always difficult of treatment, and in old persons, when it is of long standing may be pronounced incurable. It is not uncom monly met with in England, in the United States and in all parts of Europe.
2. In the Time of Moses. (1) Three Species. Turning to the Mosaic account, we find three species mentioned, which were all in cluded under the generic term of Bahe'ret, or 'bright spot.' The first is called Rohag, which
signifies 'brightness,' but in a subordinate degree. This species did not render a person unclean. The second was called Bahfret lebandh, or a bright white ltahlrel. The third was Bah1ret kihdh, or dusky BaRret„ spreading in the skin. These last two were also called Tsordat (i. e., properly, 'a stroke,' as if a chastisetnent), and rendered a person unclean. The characteristic marks of the Bahfret lebandh mentioned by Moses are a glossy white and spreading scale upon an ele vated base, the elevation depressed in the mid dle, the hair on the patches participating in the whiteness, and the patches themselves perpetually increasing.
(2) Other Slight Affections. There are some other slight affections mentioned by name in Le viticus, which the priest was required to distin guish from leprosy, such as Sea, Shafth,f1, Neteg, Shechin, I. e. 'elevation,"depressed,' etc.
(3) Examination by the Priest. If a per son had any of the above diseases he was brought before the priest to be examined. If the priest found the distinctive signs of a Tsordat, or con tagious leprosy, the person was immediately de clared unclean. If the priest had any doubt on the subject, the person was put under confine ment for seven days, when he was examined a second time. If in the course of the preceding week the eruption had made no advance, lie was shut up for another seven days; and if then the disease was still stationary, and had none of the distinctive signs above noticed, he was declared clean (Lev. xiii).
(4) Exclusion. The leper was excluded from the tabernacle and the camp, and when he was healed his restoration to social intercourse with his fellow-men was twofold, performed both in the camp and in the tabernacle (Lev. xiv :3-32). A house for lepers was built outside Jerusalem on the hill of Gareb—i. e., "the hill of scraping" ( Jer. xxxi :39, 4o; Job ii :8).