154 PLINY'S NATURAL HISTORY. [Book XXVI. 



one class of diseases attacks the young, another confines itself 

 to adults ; while one malady extends itself only to the higher 

 classes, another is felt exclusively by the poor. 



CHAP. 4. CARBUNCLE. 



We find it stated in the Annals, that it was in the censorship 9 

 of L. Paulus and Q. Marcius that carbuncle 10 was first intro- 

 duced into Italy, a malady which till then had confined itself 

 solely to the province of Gallia Narbonensis. In the year 

 in which I am writing these lines, two persons of consular 

 rank have died of this disease, Julius Rufus 11 and Q. Lecanius 

 Eassus; 12 the former in consequence of an incision unskilfully 

 made by his medical attendants, the latter through a wound 

 upon the thumb of the left hand by pricking a carbuncle with 

 a needle, a wound so small originally as to be hardly percep- 

 tible. 



This disease makes its appearance in the more hidden 13 parts 

 of the human body, and mostly beneath the tongue. It ori- 

 ginally has the form of a hard, red, pimple, with a blackish 

 head mostly, though sometimes of a livid colour. It produces 

 tension of the flesh, but unattended with swelling, pain, or 

 any itching sensation ; indeed, the only symptom that accom- 

 panies it is a confirmed drowsiness, which overpowers the pa- 

 tient, and carries him off in the course of three days. Some- 

 times, however, it is accompanied with shuddering, and small 

 pustules about the sore ; and occasionally, though but rarely, 

 with fever. When these symptoms extend to the fauces and 

 oesophagus, death ensues with the greatest rapidity. 



CHAP. 5, ELEPHANTIASIS. 



We have already 14 stated that elephantiasis 15 was unknown 



3 A.U.C. 590. 



10 ** Carbunculus." A malignant pustule, accompanied with swelling and 

 ending with gangrene, is still known by this name, but it does not mani- 

 fest any particular preference for the mouth and tongue. Fee says that 

 carbuncle was recently (1833) endemic in Provence, the ancient Gallia 

 Narbonensis, for which reason it had received the name of " Charbon Pro- 

 ven qal." 



11 Consul, A.U.C. 819. 12 Consul, A.U.C. 816. 



13 Judging from this symptom, Dalechamps says that it looks more like 

 chancre than carbuncle. 14 In B. xx. c. 52. 



15 Supposed, as Pliny says, to have originally come from Upper Egypt. 



