Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/367

LE PLAY LEPEOSY 361 vius to aid him against Sextus Pompey, he at- tempted to take possession of the island and make himself independent of his colleague ; he succeeded in gaining over eight of the Pom- peian legions, which with his own made a pow- erful army. Octavius, after tampering with his soldiers, ventured personally into his camp, exhorting them to prevent a civil war by com- ing over to him. Though he was wounded and obliged to retire, this bold proceeding had the desired effect, the legions gradually deserting Lepidus till he was left powerless, and on his knees begged Octavius for his life. He was deprived of all share in the government, and kept under strict surveillance at Circeii. LE PLAY, Pierre Guillanme Frederic, a French author, born at Honfleur, April 11, 1806. He became a military engineer, director of a mi- ning school, and commissary general of the Paris exhibitions of 1855 and 1867. The academy of sciences awarded a prize to his Ouvriers euro- peens (Paris, 1855). Among his other works are: La reforme sociale en Europe (2 vols., 1864); Organisation du travail selon la cou- tume des ateliers, and La loi du Decalogue (1870) ; and Organisation de lafamille (1871). LE POITTEVlff, Edmond Modeste Eugene, a French painter, whose real name is POIDEVIST, born in Paris in 1806. His " Reapers" (1826) was purchased by the duchess of Berry. Among his subsequent works are : " Van der Velde painting in the midst of a Battle," and " The Grave Digger and his Children " (1843) ; "Winter in Holland" (1845); " Shipwreck in the Polar Seas" (1867); "A Delicate Atten- tion " (1868) ; and " The Potato Crop " (1869). LEPRA (Gr. /leTiyxSf, scaly), a skin disease which in the most common form (lepra vul- garis) is characterized by circular patches, the centre depressed with the skin sound or near- ly so, the circumference slightly elevated and covered with small, dry, shining scales. It commences with an eruption of small, red, elevated points, each covered with a minute scale; the disease advances at the circum- ference, the centre gradually becoming sound. The eruption is perfectly dry. The circular patches rarely become more than an inch in diameter. "Where the eruption is copious, these patches intersect each other at the cir- cumference, and the circular form is lost, but characteristic segments of a circle can still be traced. The disease commonly com- mences in the extremities, and often extends over the trunk; the head and face are very rarely affected. When it is very chronic and extensive, the roots of the nails are sometimes affected, and the nails become thickened, curved, and of a dirty yellow color ; according to Rayer {Maladies de la peau the matrix of the nails sometimes becomes inflamed and fur- nishes a sanious discharge. The general health is very slightly affected by the disease, and the patient only suffers from an annoying itching, aggravated by warmth, exercise, or full diet, and chiefly present at the commence- ment of the complaint or while it is spread- ing. Lepra alphoides is a variety of the dis- ease in which there is less redness of the skin and elevation of the circular margin of the patches, while the scales are smaller and of a more pearly whiteness. In lepra nigri- cans the scales have a dark or blackish color ; it is a rare form, and according to Biett always of syphilitic origin. Lepra is mainly an affection of youth and adult life, but no age is exempt from it. It is unattended with danger to life, but obstinate and uncertain of cure, sometimes disappearing in one place to appear in another, or reappearing directly after remedial means have been discontinued. Its essential causes are unknown. Treatment. Internally the remedy from the use of which benefit is derived in the greatest number of instances is undoubtedly arsenic. Fowler's solution may be given in doses of from 3 to 5 drops three times a day, its effects being care- fully watched. Biett in many instances has derived great advantage from the tincture of cantharides, commencing with small doses, which are gradually increased. Externally, alkaline baths (from 4 to 8 oz. of the sub- carbonate of potassa to a bath) and vapor baths have been -particularly recommended. Tar ointment (1 part to 8 of lard) is of undoubted efficacy. Biett also recommends the use of an ointment of iodide of sulphur (12 grs. to the ounce of lard), and of calomel ointment (1 dram to the ounce). LEPROSY, a name under which during the middle ages were confounded tubercular ele- phantiasis, elephantiasis of the Arabs (Barba- does leg), the scaly diseases of the skin (lepra and psoriasis), and other chronic skin diseases which were rendered rife and inveterate by a bad diet and want of cleanliness. The same confusion existed among the ancient Hebrews and Egyptians, and probably among other east- ern nations, from the earliest historical times. The Hebrews brought the affliction with them into Palestine, and the stringent provisions of the Mosaic law show how dreadful must have been its ravages and how great the terror which it excited. Regarding it as a disease sent from God, for which no natural remedy could be prescribed, they required that the person sup- posed to be infected should show himself to the priest ; and if in the opinion of the latter the disease was leprosy, he was declared un- clean and immediately separated from the rest of the people. So strictly was the rule ob- served, that even kings afflicted with the dis- ease were expelled from their thrones and shut out from society. Outside the gates of cities and in secluded districts were usually found leper villages, an institution still existing in the East, where these outcasts of society dragged out their wretched lives, depending upon their own labors and the alms of the charitable for the means of subsistence. Hos- pitals for their relief or protection seem to have been unknown among any of the nations