Leviticus 13, 14. Spreading and Non-spreading Diseases. The distinction between them; precautions to be observed with leprosy; infected garments and the law of cleansing houses; infected houses. The exact disease referred to by the Heb. word for leprosy is uncertain. Naturally no true medical diagnosis is given; the symptoms that are mentioned point to one or more kinds of skin disease, perhaps ringworm, or even a harmless fungoid growth known as lepraria. For houses, some kind of dry-rot seems intended; for garments, mould or mildew. In regard to the human disease, if leprosy is intended, the symptoms here mentioned are not the most striking, scientifically or popularly. There is no mention of the swelling of features or limbs, the dropping off of the extremities, or anæ sthesia; nor can this silence well be explained by the suggestion that only the initial or quasi-symptoms are referred to, as the cure is also considered. The cause of true leprosy is said to be eating putrid food, especially fish. It is rare in Palestine to-day, though skin diseases are common enough. No help is gained from the narratives in OT or NT. Naaman (2 Kings 5:1; cf. 2 Kings 15:5) was not isolated. True leprosy may be inherited; tuberculous leprosy is not curable. Nothing is here said of any medical treatment; the priest merely pronounces; there is no analogy to the Greek priests of Asclepios. The real interest of the code is ritual, not medical or hygienic.