Chap. 3.] WHEN LICHEN FIRST APPEARED IN ITALY. 153 
the reign of the Emperor Tiberius* Claudius Caesar ; where 
it was introduced from Asia/* in which country it had lately- 
made* its appearance, by a member of the equestrian order at 
Eome, a native of Perusium, secretary to the quaestor. The 
disease, however, did not attack either females or slaves,^ 
nor yet the lower orders, or, indeed, the middle classes, but 
only the nobles, being communicated even by the momentary 
contact requisite for the act of salutation.' Many of those 
who persevered in undergoing a course of remedial treatment, 
though cured of the disease, retained scars upon the body more 
hideous even than the malady itself; it being treated with 
cauteries, as it was certain to break out afresh, unless means 
were adopted for burning it out of the body by cauterizing to 
the very bone. 
Upon this occasion several physicians repaired to Eome 
from Egypt, that fruitful parent of maladies of this nature, 
men who devoted themselves solely to this branch of medical 
practice ; and very considerable were the profits they made. 
At all events, it is a well-known fact that Manilius Cornutus, 
a personage of praetorian rank, and legatus of the province of 
Aquitania, expended no less a sum than two hundred thou- 
sand® sesterces upon his cure. 
It is much more frequently, on the other hand, that we hear 
of new forms of diseases attacking the lower orders ; a singular 
fact, and one quite unequalled for the marvellous phaenomena 
Avhich sometimes attend these outbreaks. Thus, for instance, 
we find an epidemic suddenly making its appearance in a cer- 
tain country, and then confining itself, as though it had made 
its election so to do, to certain parts of the body, certain ages, 
and even certain pursuits in life. In the same way, too, while 
* It is somewhat difficult to say whether Tiberius, the predecessor, or 
Claudius, the successor of Caligula, is meant; most probably the lattc-r, 
as the former's reign would have been in the times of " our fathers." 
Asia Minor. 
^ " Cum apparuisset." He is probably wrong here, for leprosy was 
known in Asia from the very earliest times. 
^ This assertion as to the slaves and lower orders is somewhat doubtful, 
though it is very possible that the diet and habits of the higher orders 
may have predisposed them more particularly for the attacks of the diseases, 
7 "Osculi," "kissing;'' a nauseous and silly practice, still adhered to, 
between bearded men even, in many parts of Europe. 
« Upwards of £1590. 
