II. 1. 5. 3. O^ SENSATIOX. 



3. Lepra. Leprosy. Leprosy of the Greeks. The skin is 

 rough with white branny scales, which are full of chinks; often 

 moist beneath, and itching. The scales on the head or arms of 

 some drinking people are a disease of this kind. The perspirable 

 matter designed for the purpose of lubricating the external skin 

 is secreted in this disease in a too viscid state, owing to the in- 

 flammation of the subcutaneous vessels; and, as the absorbents 

 act too strongly at the same time, a viscid mucus is left adhering 

 to the surface of the skin. 



In the leprosy of the Jews, described in the thirteenth and 

 fourteenth chapters of Leviticus, the depression of the sore be- 

 neath the surface of the skin, and the hairs in it becoming white, 

 seem to have been the principal circumstances, which the priest 

 was directed to attend to for the purpose of ascertaining the dis- 

 ease. 



M. M. Essence of antimony, from 20 drops to 100, twice or 

 thrice a day, with half a pint of decoction of elm-bark; or of 

 malt-tea; or tincture of cantharides, from 20 to 60 drops, four 

 times a day; or sublimate of mercury, with much diluting 

 fluid. Acid of vitriol? Perhaps the cure chiefly depends on 

 much dilution with water, from two to four pints a day, in 

 which elm-bark, or pine-buds, or juniper-tops, may be boiled. 

 Bath or Buxton water drunk in large quantities. Warm bath. 

 Oil-skin bound on the part to confine the perspirable matter 

 Ointment of tar and suet; or poultice for two or three days, and 

 then cerate with lapis calaminaris. Diet of raisins and bread. 

 Abstinence from wine, beer, and all spirits, is indispensably ne- 

 cessary to the cure. 



4. Elephantiasis. Leprosy of the Arabs. A contagious dis- 

 ease; the skin is thickened, wrinkled, rough, unctuous, destitute 

 of hair, without any sensation of touch in the extremities of the 

 limbs; the face deformed with tubercles; the voice hoarse, and 

 with a nasal tone. Cullen. 



5. Framboesia. Yaws is said to be contagious and hereditary. 

 It principally affects the negroes in the West-Indies. Edinb. 

 Essays, Vol. VI. 



6. Psora. Itch. A contagious prurient eruption. There 

 are two kinds of itch: that which appears between the fingers 

 and under the joints of the knees and elbows; and that which 

 seldom is seen in these places, but all over the other parts of the 

 body. The latter is seldom thought to be the itch, as it does not 

 easily infect even a bed-fellow, and resists the usual means of 

 cure by brimstone. 



If the itch be cured too hastily, by rubbing mercurial or arse- 

 nical preparations over the whole body, or on too great a part 



