f 4 6 ] 
ia. We believe, that this contagion does not take 
place but by long frequenting the company of the 
infected, or bv carnal knowlege. Befides, we have 
obferved, that even fuch long frequenting, or coha- 
biting with them, are not always fufficient to com- 
municate the difeafe ; becaufe we have feen women 
cohabit with their huibands, and huibands with their 
wives, in the diilemper, while one is found, and the 
other infedted. We fee families communicate and 
live with leprous perfons, and yet never be infedted ; 
and thus, altho’ experience, and the information of 
the lick, prove the contagion, we are of opinion, 
that there muft be a particular difpoiition in people 
to receive the poifon of the leprofy. 
13. As to what regards the diitemper’s being here- 
ditary, it is afluredly fo. We have feen intire fa- 
milies infedted j and almoit every child of a leprous 
father or mother fall infenfibly into the leprofy ; and 
yet, in feveral other families, we have feen fome 
children found, and others tainted j the father has 
died of the difeafe, and the children grew old with- 
out any infedtion : fo that, tho’ it is certainly here- 
ditary, yet we believe it is of the fame nature with 
thofe in families troubled with the confumption, 
gravel, and other hereditary diitempers ; which are 
tranfmitted from father to fon, without being fo 
very regular, as to affedt every one of the family. 
14. We could never find out any certain rule of 
judging, at what age the difeafe fhews itfelf firit in 
thofe, who were begotten by infedted parents : but 
we have, as far as we could, obferved, with regard 
to women or girls, that the fymptoms begin with 
the menfes, and continue llightly till they have lain- 
in 
