Leprosy could mean many skin diseases, such as favus or psoriasis. "Thalassomonas loyana" can cause white plague disease in the coral Favia favus. Scutula often occur on the scalp and are characteristic of favus. Externally they are used for eruptions, ulcers, favus, wounds, and falling of the hair. The latter "northeastern" form was described as a separate species, "H. favus", in 2006. The generic name "Favolus" is derived from the Latin "favus" meaning "honeycomb". Murray J. Favus served as the Editor-in-Chief for the first six editions of the Primer.