Michelet suggests that it may have resulted from the European want of cleanliness, brought about by ascetic teachings--for the old Greek and Roman public bath-houses were held in horror by the mediaeval Church.

But this is not at all certain.

What is certain is that in the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries leprosy became very prevalent.

The disease was not then at all understood; it was supposed to be extremely contagious, and the man afflicted by it was immediately separated from society, and not allowed to live in any community under such conditions as could bring him into contact with other inhabitants.
His wife or children could accompany him only on the terrible condition of being considered lepers.

Every leper wore a kind of monk's dress, with a hood covering the face; and he had to carry a bell and ring it constantly to give notice of his approach.