In the history of this disease, as handed down to us by the ancient writers, and confirmed by modern observation, the identity with the Mosaic account appears complete, both as regards its symptoms and predisposing causes; for it is the class of persons, who are working in dust and under privations, such as the Jews were subject to, when detained among the Egyptians, that are the most liable to it.

And then, from its contagiousness, it is easily understood how, subsequently, those were affected who were not so liable to suffer hardships.

Dr. Bateman describes this disease as commencing with small, round, reddish, and shining elevations of the skin; at first smooth, but, in a day or two, exhibiting white scales on their tops :-these scales gradually, sometimes rapidly, dilate to the size of half a crown, are depressed in the

centre, still retaining their oval circular form, and are covered with shining scales, not unlike mica or asbestos, but more opaque, and encircled by a dry red and slightly elevated border.

Various states are described by Moses as sufficient to justify a suspicion of the presence of the disease; such as herpes, (') dry scall, (2) humid scall, (3) the bright white scall, (*) dull white scall, (5) bruise, (9) boil, (') and carbuncle; (8) and in order to form a correct diagnosis, seven or fourteen days are allowed.

The occurrence of any of these was suf ficient to render it necessary for the priest to examine; and, according to the appearances, after the expiration of the times

(1) Leviticus xiii. 2, 10, 13, 19. (3) Ver. 30, 31.

(5) Ver. 39.

(7) Ver. 18.

(2) Ver. 2, 6, 7.

(4) Ver. 2.

(6) Ver. 29, 42.

(8) Ver. 24.

specified by Moses, was the person declared infected by, or free from, one of the two Tsorats.

And, as a proof of the inveteracy of this last variety, if the patches ulcerated, with fungous growths, the sufferer was declared unclean for life; which coincides with the statement of Actuarius, that the worst form of lepra penetrates deep, forms circular eruptions, and certain funguses and deliquescences of flesh.

Rosenmüller, as quoted in the Oriental Literature, (1) asserts that the leprosy is a contagious and dreadful disorder, which slowly consumes the human body, is common, particularly, in Egypt and Syria, but is also met with in other hot climates, and generally manifests itself in the manner described in Leviticus.

(1) Vol. i. p. 214.

Peysonnel, (') a French physician, gives a melancholy picture of its effects as seen by him in the Island of Guadaloupe.

Many have confounded this disease with the Tubercular Elephantiasis, and to this day, in the Greek Islands, the confusion remains for we are well assured the disease prevailing in these districts, though termed Elephantiasis, has no character of this disease, but is really and truly the inveterate disorder described by Moses, in which there is nothing of the thick, rugose, livid, tubercular, or insensible skin: nothing of the fierce and staring eyes, hoarse and nasal voice, or of the general falling off of the hair.

The Arabian physicians had described, under different names, the various affections occurring in the skin, but which often

(1) Vide Michaelis' Mosaic Law.

became misapplied by those who quoted them; and the Latin translators invariably rendered the word juzam by lepra, while in reality it designated the Tubercular Elephantiasis. But besides this, we must take into consideration that some of the Arabian physicians conceived that the lepra terminated at times in elephantiasis, thus making them different stages of one disease. Alsahavarius thus unites and confounds them.

In confirmation, Dr. Good concludes his history of the disease by observing, “Thus, Mr. Jowett, in his very interesting work, the Christian Researches in the Mediterranean, in describing the beautiful, but now, from its political reverses, most pitiable Island of Haivali or Kydonia, near Scio, A little further on is the hospital for lepers: it was founded by a leper. Elephantiasis is no uncommon disorder in these parts: its