170 Epidemics. 



defeated in the neighbourhood of Pharsalia by Julius Caesar; 

 from thence he took ship for Egypt, and all but landed, when 

 he was assassinated by the order of the Egyptian king, 

 Pompey traversed Asia Minor, from Armenia and Pontus 

 to Coelo-Syria, Phoenicia, and Palestine. Twice during that 

 time he wintered at Pontus ; but at no time, not even in his 

 death, did the sole of his feet rest in Egypt. Therefore, 

 whatever disease Pompey's army brought to Italy, it did 

 not contract it in Egypt (where Gabinius entered with a 

 Roman army in 55 B.C.) ; but it was in Asia Minor where his 

 victorious army came, and saw, and conquered, and con- 

 tracted leprosy as a final legacy, the reward of living in an 

 enemy's country. 



It can be scarcely said that leprosy was endemic in Asia 

 Minor, though God had threatened the Israelites with the 

 diseases of Egypt, if they did not keep steadfast to his laws 

 which he gave them by Moses. And we may infer that one 

 of the curses inflicted upon his chosen people was the 

 disease leprosy, which was contracted in Egypt. 



Its spread in Asia Minor must have been very extensive 

 in 66 B.C., and probably it had outstripped its old territory 

 for some 40 years or so to have become so general that an 

 army, well fed, clothed, and disciplined, should have become 

 so affected by it that it became a focus of disease in other 

 lands upon their return from active warfare. 



Recruits from Nearer Spain and Italy composed the great 

 bulk of Pompey's army, and on their being disbanded at 

 Brundusium, whatever the more enterprising and active 

 might do, the sick and disabled would seek for protection 

 and quiet among their own relatives, and, according to the 

 old and very popular notion, in their native air and country. 

 In this manner the recruits from Spain who were lepers on 

 their return would find their way back again to. Spain, and 

 those of Italy to their own relatives in their own country. 



