Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 05.djvu/539

LEFT LEPROSY 463 LEBINS independent, and lost his provinces and his office. He died in 13 B. c. LEPROSY, a disease characterized by the formation of scaly patches on the skin, of different sizes, but having al- ways nearly a circular form. Physicians distingxiish three varieties of this disease — Lepra vulgaris, or common leprosy; Lepra alphas, or white leprosy; and Lepra nigricans, or black leprosy. Lep- rosy first manifests itself in small dis- tinct reddish elevations of the cuticle, which enlarge till they sometimes attain the size of a coin. They are covered with scales, which accumulate and form a thick prominent crust, and are quickly reproduced as they fall off. In lepra alphas the scale patches are smaller than in lepra vulgaris, and have also their central parts depressed or indented. The lepra nigricans differs from the others chiefly in the color of the patches, which are dark and livid. Leprosy originated in Egypt and Arabia at a very early period. It is frequently alluded to in the Scriptures; and special regula- tions were prescribed concerning those afflicted with it by the Mosaic law, 1491 B. c. It was known to the Greeks and Romans, and is described by Hippocrates (460-357 B. c.) and Galen (a. d. 130-200). The crusaders introduced the disease into Europe, where it raged with virulence during the Middle Ages. Since the com- mencement of the 17th century the dis- ease has almost entirely disappeared from Europe, where it is now limited to the most northern and southern coun- tries. LEPSIUS, KARL RICHARD (lep'se- 6s), a German Egyptologist; born in Naumburg, Dec. 23, 1810. While pur- suing his studies in Paris he wrote three disquisitions, which won prizes of the Academy: "Palaeography as a Means of Linguistic Research" (1834); "Kinship of the Semitic, Indian, Ethiopian, Old Persian, and Old Egyptian Alphabets"; "Origin and Relationship of Numerical Terms in the Indo-Germanic, Semitic, and Coptic Languages." In his cele- brated "Letter to Mr. Rossellini on the Hieroglyphic Alphabet" (1837), he pro- pounded a scientific theory of hiero- glyphic writing. His translation of the "Book of the Dead" was published in 1842. That year he visited Egypt, and for four years studied its monuments; the results of his researches are contained in the magnificent "Monuments of Egypt and Ethiopia" (12 vols. 1849-1860). He wrote for the general public "Letters from Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Sinaitic Peninsula" (1852). He died in Berlin, July 10, 1884. LE QUEUX, WILLIAM, an English novelist; born in London, July 2, 1864. He studied art in Paris under Spiridion; entered into journalism, becoming at- tached to "Galignani" and Paris "Morn- ing News"; went to London; joined staff of "Globe" in gallery of House of Com- mons, 1890; appointed sub-editor, 1891; resigned to devote time to novel writing, 1893. He published "Guilty Bonds" (1890) ; "The Great War in England in 1897" (1892); "Zoraida" (1894); "The Temptress" (1895) ; "A Secret Service" (1896); "Devil's Dice" (1896); "The Great White Queen" (1896) ; "The Day of Temptation" (1897); "In White Rai- ment" (1900) ; "The Zeppelin Destroyer" (1916), etc. British consul San Marino, 1900. LERDO DE TEJADA, SEBASTIAN (lar'do da ta-ha'da), a Mexican states- man; born in Jalapa, Mexico, April 25, 1825; appointed a judge of the supreme court in June, 1855; was Minister of Foreign Affairs for a short time two years later ; member of Congress in 1861— 1862 and in 1862-1863; was a compan- ion of President Juarez in 1863-1867, during which time he was successively Minister of Justice and Minister of For- eign AflFairs. He was elected chief-jus- tice of the supreme court in December, 1867, and on the death of Juarez, July 18, 1872, he succeeded to the presidency; was elected to that post in the following November. In 1876 he was again can- didate to succeed himself and after the election, which was in doubt, he was de- clared re-elected by Congress. This ac- tion resulted in a revolution and Lerdo was forced to leave the country. He lived in retirement in New York City till his death, April 21, 1889. LERIDA, a town of Spain, capital of the province of Lerida on a tributary of the Ebro, 114 miles W. by N. of Bar- celona, pop. about 25,000. The second city of Catalonia, Lerida has a castle and two cathedral churches, one an an- cient Byzantino-Moorish edifice, now used as a barracks, the other a modem Grseco-Roman building. It carries on manufactures of woolens, cottons, leather, paper, and glass. Near Lerida, the Celtiberian Ilerda, Scipio Africanus defeated Hanno (216 B. C.) ; and Csesar, the lieutenants of Pompey (49 B. C). The Goths made it a bishop's see and held here a council of the Church in the 6th century. In 1300 a university was founded here; it is now extinct. The town has been several times besieged, on the last occasion by the French in 1810. LERINS (la-rang), a small group of French islands in the Mediterranean, 2^/^