DISEASES OF ADULT LIFE. 325 
= 
are not so pleasant. If you prefer an ointment, use either the 
‘blood-root, tar, or itch (see index). 
LEPROSY. 
This is one of the oldest and most dreadful of diseases ; 
it is mentioned in Scripture many times, and in the earliest of 
medical books. Although not so common as in Scriptural 
‘times it is found more or less all over the globe; in Norway, 
Iceland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Southern Russia. The 
disease has disappeared in Eastern Europe: in India and 
‘China it is very common. The Chinese take it with them 
almost wherever they go. Forty years ago the Hawaiians 
or Sandwich Islanders knew nothing of it; nowa tenth part of 
them are lepers. .One island is set apart forthem. It is well 
known from whom they got it; the Chinese have over-run 
the islands and given them this plague. We do not wish to 
increase the prejudice that exists against Chinamen, but if 
‘they do not adopt our civilised mode of life, they ought to be 
watched and kept from swamping the colonies, where even 
now leprosy is among them. While it is figuratively true of 
us all that in the midst of life we are dying, this. saying has 
its literal rendering in the leper. The outside of the body is 
decaying piecemeal. It usually takes 10 years from the 
commencement of the disease till death, which must be 
‘welcome to the sufferer, terminating his misery. ‘The disease 
has two forms, and various manifestations. The first stage is 
the appearance of blotches in patches, from the size of a 
finger nail to that of the hand, on the skin. These grow 1% 
‘size, darken in colour, take on a bronze gangrenous tint. The 
face is generally first invaded, but the whole body, even the 
palms of the hands and soles of the feet are sometimes covered. 
Itissaid to be caused by aparasitic growth (Bacillis). The most 
‘melancholything about it isitsincurability; things innumerable 
have been tried, but all seem to fail. The old adage, ‘‘ while 
there is life there is hope,” should prevent the patients or their 
friends sitting down in despair without trying anything. 
‘Those who have lived in infected districts only mention five 
