See Leodius [Hubert], Acta et Gesta Fr. de Sick:, in Freher, Scriptt. Rer. Germ, iii, 295 sq. ; Spangenberg, ,-1 delsspieyel, ii, 44 ; Sturm, A ugenzeuge u. Uerold bei Kroheruny von iSickinr/en's Burf/en ; Seckendorf, Com- ment. Hist, et A polo;/, de Lutheranismo (Francof. et Lips. 1(592, 4to), i ; Planck, Gesc/i. d. ptof. Lehrbec/riffs, ii, 150 sq. ; Miinch, /v. f&« Sickin(/e)is Thaten, Plane, Freunde II. A usffiuif/ (Stuttg. 1827, 1828, 2 pts. [pt. ii contains the sources]) ; Strauss, Ulrich v<m llutten (Leips. 1858, 18G0, o pts.). — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s, v.
Sickle (^'C!2'~\1^, chermesk, a reaping-hook, Deut. xvi, 9; xxiii, 25 [2(3]; 7^"^, mugdl, a i-eaping-knife, Jer, vii, 16; Joel iii [iv], \S,Cf)(Travov), the instrument usu- ally employed for cutting grain. See Agkicultuke; HAKVIiST; Kkaping.
Ancient Egyptian Sickles.
Sickles, Jacop., D.D., a Dutch Reformed minister, was born at Tappan, N. Y., in 1772, graduated from Co- lumbia College in 1792, and prepared for the ministry under Drs. S. Froeligh and J. H. Livingston. He was distinguished as a linguist, both in classical and modern tongues. After his licensure, in 1794, he became assis- tant to Rev. Dr. Theodoric Romeyn, f)astor of the l\e- formed Church in Schenectady. Two years sulise- quently lie settletl over the I'nited churches of Cox- sackie and Coeymans, N. V. In 1798 he went, by ap- pointment of the Ceneral Synod, on a tour of missionary exi>loration among tiie settlements on the frontier of New York a?id on the Susijuchanna ; and in 1H()9 made a similar tour among the churches of his denomination in Canada, lie removeil to the large and iinporlant Church of Kinilerhook, N. Y., in IH(l7, of whicli he was pastor until 1H3."). Here, with a territory which now contains /ive or six congregations that are otl'Mhoots of the still vigorous mother Church, he labored with un-
tiring zeal and uniform success, until the infirmities of age compelled him to resign. About twenty annually were added to the Church during his long ministry. His most striking traits of character were "his conde- scension, love of evangelical truth, gravity, and mental independence." He was everywhere, and always, the minister of Christ. 'His i)iety was paramount; his daily walk was with God; he preached, as unbelievers admitted, every hour of his life." As a preacher Dr, Sickles was argumentative, exact, ornate, and classical in style; calm, deliberate, and impressive in delivery; jjointed, terse, ami practical in his applications of truth. In 1811 his ministry was blessed with a remarkable re- vival of religion, particidarly among the young. He was active in jiromoting missions, temperance, and other benevolent agencies of his time. His latter years were passed in dignitiod retirement from duties which he could no longer ])erform. Towards the last his mental powers failed utterly, and he died, a jiatriarch among his flock, Jan. 19, l!S48. having been filty-four years in the ministry. He left no printed remains. See Sprague, A nnals of the A mer. Pidpit, s. v. ; Van Zaudt [Rev^. B.], Memorial Sermon, {\\. J. R. T.)
Sickness (usually some form of TO'n, to he worn down; dcr^wfiuX The climate of Palestine and the adjoining countries is, on the whole, conducive to health (Tacitus, Nist. v, G, 2), and with regularity of habits the natives do not suffer much from maladies (Niebuhr, Beschr. p. 129). When these do occur they are usually of short duration. A list of the more se- vere diseases occurs in Lev. xxvi, 16; Deut. xxviii, 22. In sunmier dysentery prevails (Acts xxviii, 8); in spring and autumn fever (Matt, viii, 14; Luke iv, 39; John iv, 52; Acts xxviii, 8; comp. Joscphus, LiJ'e, ii ; see Russel, Aleppo, ii, 137; Burckhardt, Arab. p. 615; also the Medic.-herm. Untersuchuni/en, p. 348 sq.). The latter is speciallj' designated as rpslj, dulleketk, TTvptroQ, or inftammation (E)eut. xxviii, 22). A pecul- iar name is rn'^JT, kuddchath ("burning ague," Lev. xxvi, 16; "fever,"' Deut. xxviii, 22), which the Sept. renders 'iKTtpoQ, some acute disease ( see Schlensner, Thesanr. iii, 106). Mention is also made of consump- tion (nsnO, shachepheth. Lev. loc. cil.), apoplexy (1 Mace, ix, 55 sq.), sunstroke (Judith viii, 3 [V 2 Kings iv, 19]; com]). Joliffe, Trav. p. 7), hypochondria (1 Sam. xviii, 10): but epilepsy, ]iaralysis, and especialh' cutaneous disorders [see LEi'itosv], as likewise blind- ness, were very common. Tiie most destructively rag- ing was the plague (q. v.) Mental diseases (madness, "|-i"il'^, of a melancholy type; comp. 1 Sam. xvi, 23) were prevalent in New-Test, times. See Possessed. The venereal disease, which ]irevailed in the Old Worhl, although in a milder tyjie than since the Crusades ( Hens- ler, Gesch.d. Lustseuche [Altona, 1783]; Sickler, in Au- gusti's Thcol. Bldtt. i, 193 sc).), has been thought to be indicated in the form i^^ Gonorrhoea riruhnta in Lev. xv, 3 (see Michaelis, J/rw. liirhl, iv. 282 sq. ; Orimlal. Bibli- oth. xxii, 2 S(). ; Hebenstreit, Ctir(e Sanilalis J'tibl. ap. Vetf. Exempla [Lips. 1779], ii, 15 sq.) and in 2 Sam. iii, 29; but this is a strained interpretation. Sec Issuk. Another disease of the private parts is mentioned in 1 Sam. v (see Beyer, De llu'worrhoidibus ex Lege Mog. Im- ]inr.\ Lips. 1 791']: Sprengel./V(///(-/.iii,29). SeeH.KMOU- ijiioiDs. .lehoram's disease (2 Chron. xxi, 12 sc).") prob- ably' was a severe chronic dysentery of a bloody charac- ter. The Sept. seems to indicate the vhoUra in Numb. xi, 10 by the word X""T (see Wamnich, JHsquis. Med, CholertF,riijiis Mentin in Sarri.i Jiibliis Occvrrit [A'ienna, 1833]); but the term denotes nansea in general. The Mishna occasionally notices various maladies, e. g. in Yoma, viii, 6 the bnlimmia (Q'^TlblS), or greediness, which is a fre()uent concomitant of other diseases. For the bite of a ral)id dog (n:;"J -53), the caul of the liver of the animal seems sometimes to have been used