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leprosy

(Encyclopedia)leprosy or Hansen's disease hănˈsənz [key], chronic, mildly infectious malady capable of producing, when untreated, various deformities and disfigurements. It is caused by the rod-shaped bacterium ...

Cope, Saint Marianne

(Encyclopedia)Cope, Saint Marianne, 1838–1918, American Roman Catholic hospital administrator, b. Heppenheim, Germany. In 1939 her family immigrated to the United States, settling in Utica, N.Y. She entered the S...

thalidomide

(Encyclopedia)thalidomide thəlĭdˈəmĭdˌ [key], sleep-inducing drug found to produce skeletal defects in developing fetuses. The drug was marketed in Europe, especially in West Germany and Britain, from 1957 to...

rifampin

(Encyclopedia)rifampin rĭfămˈpĭn [key], antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis. It is also used to eliminate the meningococcus microorganism from carriers and to treat leprosy, or Hansen's disease. Ri...

Naaman

(Encyclopedia)Naaman nāˈəmən [key]. In the Bible, Syrian captain whom Elisha cured miraculously of leprosy. ...

intoxication

(Encyclopedia)intoxication, condition of body tissue affected by a poisonous substance. Poisonous materials, or toxins, are to be found in heavy metals such as lead and mercury, in drugs, in chemicals such as alcoh...

Uzziah

(Encyclopedia)Uzziah ŭzīˈə [key], in the Bible, king of Judah, son and successor of Amaziah. He rebuilt Elath, port on the Gulf of Aqaba. He was stricken with leprosy after usurping the duties of high priest. H...

Miriam

(Encyclopedia)Miriam mĭrˈēəm [key], in the Bible. 1 Sister of Moses and Aaron. After the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, she led the women in the song of Miriam. Later she sided with Aaron against Moses and was s...

Damien, Father

(Encyclopedia)Damien, Father dāˈmēən, dämyăNˈ [key] (Damien De Veuster), 1840–89, Belgian missionary priest and saint, originally named Jozef De Veuster. He went to Hawaii (1864) as a Picpus Father (Father...

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