a foul cutaneous disease, appearing in dry, white, thin, scurfy scabs, either on the whole body, or only some parts of it, and usually attended with violent itching and other pains. See MEDICINE Index.

The leprosy is of various kinds, but the Jews were particularly subject to that called Elephantiasis. Hence the Jewish law excluded lepers from communion with mankind, banishing them into the country or uninhabited places, without excepting even kings. When a leper was cleansed, he came to the city gate, and was there examined by the priests; after this he took two live birds to the temple, and fastened one of them to a wisp of cedar and hyssop tied together with a scarlet ribbon; the second bird was killed by the leper, and the blood of it received into a vessel of water; with this water the priest sprinkled the leper, dipping the wisp and the live bird into it; this done, the live bird was let go; and the leper, having undergone this ceremony, was again admitted into society and to the use of things sacred. See Levit. xiii. 46, 47. and Levit. xiv. 1, 2, &c.