The Leper in England: With Some Account of English Lazar-Houses

A historical account written in the late 19th century. This publication discusses the historical presence and social implications of leprosy in England, examining the leper communities and their segregated living conditions in lazar houses throughout the country. It reflects on the medical and theological perspectives on leprosy from biblical times to the Middle Ages. The book provides a comprehensive examination of leprosy in England, detailing its classifications as two distinct diseases: the biblical type and the Medieval form known as Elephantiasis Græcorum. Hope surveys the establishment of lazar houses, their regulations, and the daily lives of their inhabitants, illustrating the stigma and isolation faced by lepers. He contrasts the treatment of lepers over time, exploring the evolution of societal attitudes towards this disease, the significant numbers of lazar houses founded, and the eventual decline of leprosy as a public health issue in England by the 16th century. The work serves as both a historical account and a call for empathy towards those afflicted by leprosy.