HEMOPHILIA. THE WORD HEMOPHILIA MEAN LITERALLY AN AFFINITY OR LIKING FOR BLOOD. ACTUALLY THE TERM IS USED TO DESIGNATE A SPECIFIC FOR OF BLEEDING DISEASE OCURRING IN MALES AND USUALLY IN CERTAIN MALE MEMBERS OF AFFECTED FAMILIES, TRANSMISSION TAKING PLACE THROUGH FEMALE MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILIES. THE DISEASE HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE BIBLICAL TIMES AND WAS NOTED IN THE TALMUD BY HEBRAIC WRITERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNUSUAL DEGREE OF BLEEDING THAT OCCASIONALLY COMPLICATED RITUAL CICUMCISION. britannica.