( io8 ) 
VI. A Letter to Dr. Halley, Astronomer tftyyal, 
% S. So€> in anfrnr to fome Objections made to 
the Hi [lory of the Antiquity of the Venereal 
Difeafe. (By Mr. Beckett, Surgeon , F. 3^. S. 
SIR, 
I Was of opinion that what I had faid in my two 
former Lett rs, had been fo full and fatisfa&ory 
that l fhould have had no occafion to have given my 
felf or any body elfe, any farther trouble upon this 
head : Rut forafmuch as 1 find there have been two 
Objections made againft what I have advanced by one 
or two learned Gentlemen, I (hall take upon me to an- 
fwer them, and endeavour to prove they do not in the 
lead invalidate the Authorities I before produced. 
The firft is, that the Venereal Difeafe Co well known 
among us now, and the Leprofy of former Ages, could 
not be the fame Difeafe, becaufe the Leprofy is not to 
be conquered by Salivation, which the other generally 
very readily yields to. In anfwer to this, I am to 
obferve, that the Leprofy, which we have among us at 
this time, affecds only the furface of the Body, the 
Skin generally appears fcaley, with a certain deep red 
colour, or fmall Sores upon removing the Scales, and 
fometimes a Scabbinefs, with a rednefs of the Skin, 
which affefls different parts of the Body. I have 
known both the Cheeks only affeCted, both the Arms 
for the breadth of the Palm of the Hand, fometimes 
the Bread, the Legs, and other Parts; but this may 
continue upon the Patient during his Life, as ic fre- 
quently does, and never make any farther Progrels 
which 
