Epidemics. 17 



and, at this time, somewhat hereditary character, it must 

 have existed before attracting general attention, it is im- 

 possible to tell ; only it is quite sure it had lain dormant 

 for some centuries, and became a common disease in Italy 

 and Spain not far distant from 537, and onwards. 



Plague, small-pox, and measles received a historical 

 mention for the first time about 537, and, for want of further 

 evidence, are viewed as having first obtained a true epidemic 

 and infectious character subsequent to this period. 



On the other hand, leprosy first came to Europe, or Italy 

 and Spain, in the year 60 B.C., through the disbanding of 

 Pompey's army at Brundusium, 61 B.C., which for three 

 years had been overrunning Asia Minor. It evidently spread 

 by infection at this time; but since 537 A.D., it has gra- 

 dually become a less infectious, but a more distinctly 

 hereditary disease, and now covering a wide-spread area 

 from Norway to New Brunswick, the South Sea Islands, 

 and Southern Asia, including India and China, and the 

 West Indies. 



The Mosaic Law gives rules to be observed by lepers, 

 which are alone compatible with the supposition of its being 

 at that time an infectious disease, and not in the slightest 

 hereditary. Again, in the days of Elisha it was distinctly 

 pronounced that it should be hereditary in the family of 

 Gehazi ; so that, from some occult circumstance, meta- 

 morphosis has been written upon this disease. In general, 

 from Elisha's time till long after the time of Christ, it was 



