Clappers, colonies and poisoned wells: a surprising history of leprosy
Leprosy makes its literary premiere in Leviticus. In the Old Testament, those stricken with tzaraath are unclean and unworthy, deserving of ostracism as well as charity. The coinage lepra — scaly, in the manner of a snake — we owe to the Alexandrian Jewish scribes who translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek. But in the New Testament and later in the Middle Ages leprosy was regarded as a divine blessing. Basciano's chapter on medieval leprosy is the most arresting of this book. Living with leprosy was deemed akin to suffering in purgatory. At death, then, the leper could expect an easy passage to Heaven.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Eight ogbonge health benefits of watermelon
Watermelon na one fruit wey many pipo like well-well, especially for places wey dey hot. Pipo like am becos e get plenty water and e sweet for mouth. Watermelon na centuries old fruit wey dey juicy and sweet, and many pipo see am as perfect treat to quench thirst during serious heat. Wit bright red flesh and little seeds wey full di body, watermelon get plenty nutrients and antioxidants wey include vitamins A and C. For interview wit BBC News Pidgin, one dietitian, Sa'adutu Sulaiman for Kano state, northern Nigeria tok say "apart from say watermelon sweet, e get plenty beta health benefits." She add say all dis beta tins wey watermelon dey do na sake of di water wey full am and some special tins wey dey inside like lycopene (wey dey make am red) and citrulline. Watermelon na natural source of citrulline. Citrulline na amino acid wey fit support beta erections. Dietitian Sulaiman say watermelon na natural Viagra wey dey help men wey get low sexual performance, e dey increase blood flow to di penis, wey dey allow men to easily get erection wit arousal. "Research don show say citrulline wey dey watermelon fit help men wey get small wahala wit performance as e dey help blood flow well to di penis" she add. Health benefits of watermelon Dis na some of di health benefits wey dey inside watermelon according to Dietitian Sulaiman. Nutritional profile (per 100g of raw watermelon) Watermelon seeds dey good for eating? Health experts say watermelon seeds get less sugar and more fiber pass dia flesh. Di seed also contain citrulline. Watermelon seeds — dried or raw — dey rich in magnesium and folate, wey dey help your body work well and avoid disease. Seeds also get di types of fatty acids wey dey lower bad cholesterol for your blood and help you avoid heart attack and stroke. Research show say melons, in general, dey good for you, but we need more studies to understand how watermelon specifically affects your body.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Photos of Gaza's worsening food crisis
Experts warn that Gaza is nearing famine, citing Israel's blockade and military offensive following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The World Health Organization reports a sharp rise in malnutrition and disease, with a large portion of Gaza's 2 million residents now starving. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Real Housewives star claims she was infected by same parasite that disfigured Brandi Glanville
Another Real Housewives star has reportedly been infected with the same parasite that disfigured Brandi Glanville. Real Housewives of Orange County alum Vicki Gunvalson, 63, claims she caught the parasite while filming Bravo's Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip with Brandi in Morocco in January 2023. 'Brandi is in so much pain. She's got a very large parasite,' Gunvalson said of the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 52, while appearing on Friday's episode of SiriusXM's Jeff Lewis Live. 'We all got sick when we went to Morocco. It's been four years and Brandi's face — she's got a parasite. It moves. It goes into her mouth. It's bad,' the reality star said. Gunvalson claimed she herself been suffering from bloating, constipation, and feeling sluggish ever since returning from Morocco, and was told that her 'gut' is 'loaded with parasites.' has reached out to Bravo representatives for comment. The star claims she has not been 'the same' as she complained that her 'stomach's bloated, I don't feel good. I feel tired.' 'Where I'm at now is like, "Why do I always feel sluggish?"' She went on: 'I don't go poop. Like, it's very hard for me. It might be once a week, if that. It's a pellet that comes out. That's it.' Gunvalson said she's been doing colonics treatment 'three times a week' and has taken medicines like 'Duralax' and 'Metamucil old lady stuff' to help her issues. That's when she reportedly found out she had parasites in her gut. The star revealed she's been taking Ivermectin 'twice a month' in order to kill the parasites. Gunvalson also added that she '100 percent' believes that Glanville picked up the parasite during their trip. She described how there was a breakfast buffet for the cast members in Morocco, consisting of fruit, pastries, and eggs, which was 'covered in flies.' She said that although she did not eat from the buffet, you 'couldn't get around' the flies, as they would be in restaurants as well. The series was ultimately shelved after their co-star Caroline Manzo accused Glanville of sexual assault while filming. However, Gunvalson appears to have gotten her dates wrong, as the Morocco season was filmed in January 2023, and not four years ago as she claimed. Glanville has been open about her health battle, and previously shared that she's spent over $100,000 seeking treatment for her condition, which she believes is caused by a facial parasite. In May she provided a rare update while calling out those who've left 'cruel comments' about her face. 'I haven't posted much on any social site lately because I'm hiding out and don't want to deal with the cruel comments on my appearance,' she revealed in part on X. However, Glanville promised fans that her hideout is over and that she would no longer be disguising herself with 'filters and heavy edits' on social media. Glanville has incurred substantial expenses because of her health concerns. The Bravo star said she's spent 'over $113,000' of her own money seeking treatment for the mystery condition outside of her health insurance plan. However, she's seen no improvements since. After various medical appointments, multiple physicians told the reality star she could be suffering from a 'parasite that jumps around [her] face.' Meanwhile cosmetic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow – who is married to Real Housewives Of Orange County star Heather Dubrow — said he was 'concerned' that Glanville could be suffering from either an 'infectious process' or a 'foreign-body reaction to something she's had injected.' Dubrow also clarified that Glanville isn't at 'fault' for not being certain about what is plaguing her, and he instead blamed her doctor for not having a solid diagnosis and treatment plan. However, he seemed fairly certain that whatever was going on with her is 'not a parasite' and is 'not from something she ate.' Instead, he suggested the issue is 'something that got into her bloodstream and seeded some foreign body.' Surprisingly, Dubrow even thought it was possible that Glanville could be ahead of her doctors, as he said she could be right that she might require surgery. He noted that she could have been infected with either mycobacteria or fungi, which could be 'very difficult to treat.' Dubrow looked particularly concerned when he said Glanville's condition was 'like a ticking time bomb,' because the potential damage could get more and more severe in a short period of time. Brandi later shared that she had a consultation with Dubrow, but had decided to get a second opinion. Brandi explained that Dubrow told her it might take five years for her to be 'totally fine.' 'Five years is way too long for me to wait,' the reality beauty said on her Brandi Glanville Unfiltered podcast, while also revealing she has not had sex in a year due to her health issues. 'I have places to go, people to make out with. I have not had sex since last October. I haven't kissed [or] made out with anyone. I haven't socialized, really.' The star shared that she wants to 'run tests, get another MRI, another cat scan' adding that she wants to 'get to the bottom of this.' Brandi added that she doesn't 'feel better' and stills sees 'this thing in my face jumping around.' She also shared that she has 'four different doctors' who have given her 'four different opinions of what it could possibly be.'
