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Oxford American Dictionaries defines leprosy as "a contagious disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, causing discoloration and lumps on the skin and, in severe cases, disfigurement and deformities." |
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An entry in Wikipedia notes "Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes." Back in the nineteenth century, those afflicted with leprosy in Hawaii sadly could only expect to live short lives of much pain, suffering, and stigma. |
