382 Notes. 



as we find observed by Leclerc, in his " Histoire de la MMicine," pages 771-791, it was the 

 opinions of those writers wliich first suggested its use in venereal affections.* 



I have already mentioned about what period Rhazes is supposed to have lived; Mesue, a very 

 distinguished writer, flourished in the tenth century; he professed Christianity, was a native of Bag- 

 dat, and practised at Cairo. Avicenna was born in the city of Bochdra, A. D. 980, and died at 

 Hamadan, in Persia, A. D. 1036 ; he was considered as the greatest philosopher and physician 

 of his age ; his writings were printed at Rome in 139o ; afterwaids translated into Latin, and pub- 

 lished at Venice, in 1608. His work is commonly met with in Europe under the title of " Canons of 

 y^tJiceMjin," but its proper Arabic appellation is A'anoonjcFi a//;A i_Ja!l ,_j t^y>\i- The author, the 

 celebrated Abu Alt/ Hiissein Ben Abdallah Ben Sina : I perceive that he recommended, in leprous 

 affections, the use of such medicines as purge off black bile ; also bleeding, and a sort of electuary 

 prepared with vipers, the heads and tails of the animals having been previously taken off; and it is 

 a curious fact, that the same remedy was prescribed for similar affections by a celebrated Hindoo 

 physician Agastier, as we see by a perusal of his Pernool, in which he praises highly the flesh 

 of the hill snake (Malai/ Paumboo), with a free use of asses' milk. 



Note B. 

 I have allowed that I had but little experience of the use of corrosive sublimate in leprous affec- 

 tions. It has not for many years past been a favourite medicine in Hindoostan, in any complaint 

 it is very apt to sicken the stomach, give it in what form you will, and certainly irritates the ner_ 

 vous system more than any other preparation of mercury. It needs scarcely be urged here, how 

 necessary it must ever be, in such cases, to support as much as possible tlie strength of the pulse: 

 with this view, I invariably ordered a moderate use of some generous wine. 



Note C. 

 The fingers and toes, on fallingoff in the Lepra Arabum, which they almost invariably do in the 

 advanced stage of the disease, sometimes leave ulcers which are difficult to heal : these in the first 

 instance may be moistened with a liniment composed of equal parts of nitrated quicksilver, sper- 

 maceti, and margosa oil (oil of the melia azadirachta), and the benumbed parts bathed with plain 

 brandy; after which the sores, when pretty clean, may be dressed with an ointment composed of 

 one ounce of simple ointment, and a dram of cerussa acetata ; finally washing them with a mix- 

 ture of equal parts of decoction of lignum guaiacum and that of margosa bark (melia azadirachta). 



Note D. 

 I have said that the diet, in cases of Lepra Arabum, should be generous : but it must also be 

 stated, that excess of every kind is most detrimental ; all food that is gross, fat, crude, or difficult Oj- 

 digestion, must be studiously avoided ; amongst which I include salted and dried meats, pickles, 

 preserves, rich sauces, cheese, &c. &c. ; and there is no doubt but that pork and fish, with the 

 exception perhaps of whiting, are most injurious. 



• The first person who cured Syphilis by means of mercury, appears lo bare )>ecn Berriiga. lu;, Jucobus, a surgeon 

 of Carpi, who died in 152". 



