LETTER XXXVII. 



To the same. 



SELBORNE, Jan. St6, 1778. 



EAR SIR, There was in this village several 

 years ago a miserable pauper, who from his birth 

 was afflicted with a leprosy, as far as we are 

 aware of a singular kind, since it affected only 

 the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet. 

 This scaly eruption usually broke out twice in 

 the year, at the spring and fall ; and, by peeling 

 away, left the skin so thin and tender that neither his hands or feet 

 were able to perform their functions ; so that the poor object was 

 half his time on crutches, incapable of employ, and languishing in a 

 tiresome state of indolence and inactivity. His habit was lean, lank, 

 and cadaverous. In this sad plight he dragged on a miserable 

 existence, a burden to himself and his parish which was obliged to 



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