238 NATURAL EISTOEY 



feet were the shells of that fish. We knew his parents, 

 neither of which were lepers ; his father, in particular, lived 

 to be far advanced in years. 



In all ages the leprosy has made dreadful havoc 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 Levi- 

 tical 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 Southwark, 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 satisfaction, 

 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, natu- 

 rally 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 enclo- 

 sures, sown-grasses, field-turnips, or field-carrots, or hay, all 

 the cattle which had grown fat in summer, and were not 

 killed for winter use, were turned out soon after Michaelmas 

 to shift as they could through the dead months; so that no 

 fresh meat could be had in winter or spring. Hence the 



1 Sec Leviticus, cliap. xiii. and xiv. 



