BACTERIUM LEPRM 165 



BACTERIUM LEPR-ffi. 



Leprosy is a chronic endemic infectious disease 

 characterized by the development, in the skin chiefly,, 

 but also the mucous membranes, of firm nodules and 

 diffuse swellings due to the growth and irritation of 

 the Bacterium leprce or leprosy bacillus. 



Forms of Leprosy. There are two forms, the nodular 

 and anesthetic. The former is usually painless through- 

 out its course, merely giving rise to the cutaneous 

 nodules. The anesthetic form is due to an involvement 

 of the sensory nerves, which are at first irritated with 

 the production of a painful early stage, followed by 

 destruction of sensation when the inflammation has 

 progressed further. The disease gives rise to con- 

 siderable superficial destruction of tissue, which is 

 responsible for the horrible pictures of this disease 

 in the lay mind. Fingers, toes, nose, and pieces of 

 skin may be removed by ulceration. The disease is 

 an old and wide-spread one, commonest in the tropics, 

 but by no means confined to them. Despite long 

 familiarity with leprosy, there are many points as yet 

 undecided about its nature. 



Transmission. The bacteria probably enter by the 

 nose and mouth, and it requires close association with 

 a leper for a long time in order to contract the disease. 

 It seems that it may be hereditary in the sense that 

 parent and child may be infected. It is much more 

 probable that the child is born free of disease and 

 acquires it by association with the parent. The low 

 contagiousness of leprosy should be emphasized. If 

 one should say in a crowd, "There is a leper!" the 



