154 
NATUEAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
slumbers by a little untimely warmth ; and therefore that nothing so 
much promotes this death-like stupor as a defect of heat. And farther, 
it is reasonable to suppose that two whole species, or at least many 
individuals of those two species of British hirundines do never leave 
this island at all, but partake of the same benumbed state; for we 
cannot suppose, that after a month's absence, house-martins can return 
from southern regions to appear for one morning in November, or that 
house-swallows should leave the districts of Africa to enjoy in March 
the transient summer of a couple of days. I am, &c. 
LETTEE XXXVII. 
TO THE SAME. 
Selborne, Jan. Sth, 1778. 
Dear Sir, — There was in this village several years ago a miserable 
pauper, who from his birth was afflicted with a leprosy, as far as we are 
aware of a singular kind, since it affected only the palms of his hands 
and the soles of his feet. This scaly eruption usually broke out twice 
in the year, at the spring and fall ; and, by peeling away, left the skin 
so thin and tender that neither his hands or feet were able to perform 
their functions ; so that the poor object was half his time on crutches, 
incapable of employ, and languishing in a tiresome state of indolence 
and inactivity. His habit was lean, lank and cadaverous. In this sad 
plight he dragged on a miserable existence, a burden to himself and 
his parish which was obliged to support him till he was relieved b^ 
death at more than thirty years of age. 
The good women, who love to account for every defect in children by 
the doctrine of longing, said that his mother felt a violent propensity 
for oysters, which she was unable to gratify ; and that the black rough 
scurf on his hands and 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 Levitical law.^' 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 South wark ; and perhaps 
many more in or near our great towns and cities. Moreover, some 
crowned heads, and other wealthy and charitable personages, be- 
queathed large legacies to such poor people as languished under this 
hopeless infirmity. 
' * See Leviticus, xiii. xiv. 
