LEPRA (the Greek word Xfrpa, scaliness), an affection of the skin, of the order Squamm, or scaly diseases, of Willan and Bateman. It is characterised by an eruption of circular spots of inflamed skin covered with scale* varying from the size of a pin's head to that of a shilling or even a half-crown piece, occasionally mixed with large irregular patches formed by the coalescing of the borders of .several- contiguous spots. The scales in this affection possess a peculiar character, by which it is distinguished from pityriasis and psoriasis, other diseases of the same order. From the surface of the inflamed spots a diseased cuticle is produced, which concretes into thickish crusts or scales of a glistening white silvery appearance, and from being secreted more abundantly towards the circumference a rounded and elevated form is given to the outer margin, whilst the centre is left almost or entirely free from scale. The whole is surrounded by a slight areola of redness. In the early stage of the disease, and in the small spots, the inflamed skin, which is slightly raised above the surrounding parts, possesses only a thin scaly covering; and in the larger patches, formed by the coalescence of several spots, the characteristic appearances became I somewhat confused; still, on careful examination, the elevated margin, circular outline, and central free spot may more or less be recognised.
This disease generally affects young people from the age of puberty up to thirty, and appears to occur more frequently in women than in men. Sometimes the whole body becomes affected by it, even the face
and scalp, but more commonly it is confined to the limbs, and in observed especially on the akin below the knee and elbow, in which situatIoua its true characters are generally moat marked. The health of persons affected with this disease is but little disturbed, the acme Mon of the eruption alone being preceded by headache and slight febrile disturbance. It is generally tedious of cure, recurring periodi cally in some constitutions, whilst in others it will continue for two or three years. Most frequently it arises without any assignable mum ; occasionally it has appeared to be dependent upon suddenly suppressed cutaneous transpiration from persona drinking cold water when over heated.
This disease must not be confounded with the leprosy of the sacred and ancient writers, a term which appears to have been used to express any loathsome affection of the akin, or, as some imagine, to have referred to the disease described in the present day under the term Elephantiasis. [Eteenaexiasis.) The treatment of lopm should consist in the administration of alterative and depurative medicines. Gentle purgatives, iodide 61 potassium, arsenic, quinine, and iron, may be given according to circumstances. Externally, the preparations of tar and creasote have been found of most benefit.