92 LEPROSY. 



penetrate from within to the surface, where they have their 

 fructification, and whiten it with sporules. Thus created, 

 the germs attach themselves to other worms, and a conta- 

 gious disease, of vegetable origin, devastates the cocoonery 

 of the silk-producer. 



The most curious part of this case is the capability of a 

 plant to live at the expense of either another vegetable or 

 of the silk- worm. A singular passage in the oldest book in 

 the world carries this idea even beyond modern discovery, 

 which, as often happens, seems to be rapidly approaching 

 to the truth, as announced three thousand years ago. In 

 the 13th and 14th chapters of Leviticus, where the subjects 

 of scall and leprosy are discussed, we find the following 

 singular language: 



Chapter xiii. " The garment also that the plague of 

 leprosy is in, whether it be in the warp or woof of linen or 

 woolen, whether in a skin or any thing made of skin ; and 

 if the plague be greenish or reddish, in the garment, it 

 is a plague of leprosy, and shall be showed unto the priest, 

 and the priest shall shut up the plague seven days. If 

 the plague be spread in the garment, the plague is a fret- 

 ting leprosy. He therefore shall burn that garment. 



"If the plague be not spread in the garment, then the 

 priest shall command that they wash it, and shut it up 

 seven days, and behold if the plague have not changed its 

 color, it is unclean, and if the plague be somewhat dark 

 after the washing, he shall rend it out of the garment, and 

 if it still appear, it is a spreading plague, and then shall 

 burn that wherein the plague is." 



Chapter xiv. "The priest shall command that they 

 empty the house, and he shall look if the plague be in the 

 walls of the house, with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, 

 which in sight are lower than the walls. Then the priest 



