A few observations on the leprosy of the middle ages, proving its identity with certain cutaneous diseases of the present day / [Thomas Shapter].

  • Shapter, Thomas
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A few observations on the leprosy of the middle ages, proving its identity with certain cutaneous diseases of the present day / [Thomas Shapter]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    discovered not to be an European disease; and we may further assume, that the ap¬ pointed inmates to the lazar houses were those who “ vel vitiligine, leucis, alpho, vel morphea, aut impetigine, lichene, psora, quae Graecorum lepra est, laborabant,” notwith¬ standing the charge of ignorance and inat¬ tention against the Haerlem physician. Beside this almost positive testimony, it is well worthy of remark, that in those parts of the globe where the ancient writers have described the tubercular disease to occur, that, to the present time, in these same places, it exists; nor is it less remarkable, that where the true (Greek) leprosy occurred in former times, so there does it still happen. Why these diseases do exist exclusively in particular spots, many authors have found reasons, in situation, climate, &c., but these causes it is not my part here to discuss; suf¬ fice it to say, that in Arabia, in Egypt, in Siam, in the Isle of France, &c., where the Elephantiasis was formerly described to exist, there it still prevails, and that in Greece, and