OF SELBORNE. 313 



his father, in particular, lived to be far advanced in 

 years. 



In all ages the leprosy has made dreadful havock 

 among mankind. The Israelites seem to have been 

 greatly afflicted with it, from the most remote times; 

 as appears from the peculiar and repeated injunctions 

 given them in the Levitical law 1 . Nor was the rancour 

 of this foul disorder much abated in the last period of 

 their commonwealth, as may be seen in many passages 

 of the New Testament. 



Some centuries ago, this horrible distemper prevailed 

 all Europe over ; and our forefathers were by no means 

 exempt, as appears by the large provision made for 

 objects labouring under this calamity. There was an 

 hospital for female lepers in the diocese of Lincoln, a 

 noble one near Durham, three in London and South- 

 wark, and perhaps many more in or near our great 

 towns and cities. Moreover, some crowned heads, and 

 other wealthy and charitable personages, bequeathed 

 large legacies to such poor people as languished under 

 this hopeless infirmity. 



It must, therefore, in these days, be, to a humane and 

 thinking person, a matter of equal wonder and satisfac- 

 tion, when he contemplates how nearly this pest is 

 eradicated, and observes that a leper now is a rare 

 sight. He will, moreover, when engaged in such a train 

 of thought, naturally inquire for the reason. This 

 happy change perhaps may have originated and been 

 continued from the much smaller quantity of salted 

 meat and fish now eaten in these kingdoms ; from the 

 use of linen next the skin; from the plenty of better 

 bread ; and from the profusion of fruits, roots, legumes, 

 and greens, so common in every family. Three or four 

 centuries ago, before there were any enclosures, sown- 

 grasses, field-turnips, or field-carrots, or hay, all the 

 cattle which had grown fat in summer, and were not 



1 See Leviticus, chap. xiii. and xiv. 



