Leprosy in literature and art.

./ Literature and fine art, the 1wo most important and idealistic cultural factors in society, have traditionally been assigned the goals of prcsenting chieHy the two Greek ideals of beauty : the beautiful and the good. Neither, has, however, shied away from picturing the nonpicturesqu e as seen, for exa mple, in .the ugly and often offendin g appearances of major plagues whi ch have left their marks on society through the ages. Cholera, bubonic plague, syphili s and even Bu have pl ayed a role and been depicted, but the present paper will be concerned only with the presentation of leprosy. The presentation will be furth er limited in that references from Egypti an and ancient Indian Buddhist literatme, as well as the ancient Greek and Roman references, compilcd to some extent by Wilhelm Ebstcin, will not be considered. -Thi s presentation will be limitcd cssentially to ptesentati on rclating to the Old and Ncw Tes taments of the Bible, where there are recorded numerous examples of wondrous healing, first by the old prophets3 and later by Christ and His Apostles.