164 . Epidemics. 



It appears, then, that small-pox was first mentioned as 

 occurring in Arabia 572 ; but how far it had spread, or 

 where the first place of its appearance was noted, is not at 

 all certain, but that it was recorded as existing in Arabia, 

 572 A.D.* 



All history combines to fix its seat of origin in Arabia, and 

 that this disease certainly commenced as an epidemic 

 disease in the sixth century. 



George Cedrenus, one of the Byzantine historians, wha 

 lived in the fifteenth century, a monk of a very legendary and 

 speculative mind, mentions that the Emperor Diocletian 

 died of small-pox ; but when that monarch had laid down 

 the imperial purple, and had retired to a private dwelling in 

 the beautiful country of Salona, it must not be supposed he 

 had no domestics, and that these domestics had no com- 

 munication with the external world ; that clothes were not 

 washed; that tradespeople, retainers, and visitors never came 

 to his residence ; and, in the midst of such varied sources 

 of infection, that the plague of small-pox was dropped from 

 the clouds, and in a fine virgin soil it only touched one 

 victim, and did not at the same time spread its baneful 

 malignancy, like a devouring fire, on every side. Though 

 Dr. Bascome mentions it as a matter of fact (" Opit. Cit.,' r 

 page 22), and does not in the slightest refer to Diocletian's 

 end being probably by his own hands, yet the authority and 

 the entire circumstances of the case have such a legendary 

 air about them, that the whole affair is not worthy of a 

 minute's reflection. 



But upon small-pox being an ancient disease, and 

 antecedent to the sixth century, the decided judgment of 

 Francis Adams, the learned editor and commentator upon 



* Also see Paulus yEgineta, Vol. I., page 330, Sydenham Society's 

 Edition. 



