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Concerning the elephantiafis, or endemial malady of 

 Barbadoes, 



April 9. 



In fpeaking to you of the exemption of 

 Barbadoes from great and deftrudtive fick- 

 nefs, I remarked that, although it efcaped fome 

 general ills, it was vifited with an affii&ive ma- 

 lady peculiarly its own. As this forms a cha- 

 racterise feature of the country, and cannot 

 but attrafl; the notice, and excite the curiofity 

 of ftrangers, you would not excufe me were I 

 to negleft offering you a few words upon the 

 fubjeft. 



The difeafe is the ekpbantiafis — -called by 

 fome the "glandular difeafe" but, by the many, 

 defignated fimply the " Barbadoes difeafe" It 

 commonly appears in the form of an enormous 

 and frightful enlargement of one or both legs ; 

 but occafionally affects other parts, particularly 

 the fgrotum, which becomes increafed to a 



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