Chap. 3.] WHEN LICHEN FIRST APPEARED IN ITALY. 153 



the reign of the Emperor Tiberius* Claudius Ctesar ; where 

 it was introduced from Asia,** in which country it had lately 

 made* its appearance, by a member of the equestrian order at 

 Rome, a native of Perusium, secretary to the quaestor. The 

 disease, however, did not attack either females or slaves, ° 

 nor yet the lower orders, or, indeed, the middle classes, but 

 only the nobles, being communicated even by the momentary 

 contact requisite for the act of salutation.' Many of those 

 who persevered in undergoing a course of remedial treatment, 

 though cured of the disease, retained scars upon the body more 

 hideous even than the malady itself; it being treated witli 

 cauteries, as it was certain to break out afresh, unless means 

 were adopted for burning it out of the body by cauterizing to 

 the very bone. 



Upon this occasion several physicians repaired to Rome 

 from Egypt, that fruitful parent of maladies of this nature, 

 men who devoted themselves solely to this branch of medical 

 practice ; and very considerable were the profits they made. 

 At all events, it is a well-known fact that Manilius Cornutus, 

 a personage of praetorian rank, and legatus of the province of 

 Aquitania, expended no less a sum than two hundred thou- 

 sand® sesterces upon his cure. 



It is much more frequently, on the other hand, that we hear 

 of new forms of diseases attacking the lower orders ; a singular 

 fact, and one quite unequalled for the marvellous phaenomena 

 which sometimes attend these outbreaks. Thus, for instance, 

 we find ail epidemic suddenly making its appearance in a cer- 

 tain country, and then confining itself, as though it l;ad made 

 its election so to do, to certain parts of the body, certain ages, 

 and even certain pursuits in life. In the same way, too, while 



* It is somewliat difficult to say whether Tiberius, the predecessor, or 

 Claudius, the successor of Caligula, is meant ; most probably the latter, 

 as the former's reign would have been in the times of " our fathers." 



** Asia Minor. 



5 " Cum apparuisset." He is probably wrong here, for leprosy was 

 known in Asia from the very earliest times. 



^ This assertion as to the slaves and lower orders is somewhat doubtful, 

 though it is very possible Ihat the diet and habits of the higher orders 

 may have predisposed them more particularly for the attacks of tlie diseases. 



7 "Osculi," "kissing;" a nauseous and silly practice, still adhered to, 

 between bearded men even, in many parts of Europe. 



^ Upwards of £1500. 



