One of the oldest diseases known to man is the dreaded 'leprosy'.
This terribly disfiguring disease is caused by the bacteria 'microbacterium leprae, and was known to man and recognized by him as early as in the age of Early Civilization, in India, China and in Ancient Egypt.
Leprosy was rampant in thirteenth century Europe too, and even to this date, about 290,000 people are affected by the disease in various parts of the world.
Leprosy attacks the skin, the peripheral nerves and the eyes of the patient, and progresses gradually after a five year incubation period. Sometimes, symptoms may not manifest themselves for twenty years or more, but when they do, it progresses quite rapidly.
Leprosy is not in actuality a contagious disease, although in older times, people did believe that they would catch the bacteria if they handled the patient. This was the reason for the existence of 'leper colonies' where lepers would be banished for life.
This terribly disfiguring disease is caused by the bacteria 'microbacterium leprae, and was known to man and recognized by him as early as in the age of Early Civilization, in India, China and in Ancient Egypt.
Leprosy was rampant in thirteenth century Europe too, and even to this date, about 290,000 people are affected by the disease in various parts of the world.
Leprosy attacks the skin, the peripheral nerves and the eyes of the patient, and progresses gradually after a five year incubation period. Sometimes, symptoms may not manifest themselves for twenty years or more, but when they do, it progresses quite rapidly.
Leprosy is not in actuality a contagious disease, although in older times, people did believe that they would catch the bacteria if they handled the patient. This was the reason for the existence of 'leper colonies' where lepers would be banished for life.
