Prize essays on leprosy / Newman. Ehlers. Impey.

  • New Sydenham Society.
Date:
1895
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Prize essays on leprosy / Newman. Ehlers. Impey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    the discovery of the virtues of the Bath springs to King Bladud, “ son of Lord Hudibras, king of Britain/* (about two thousand years ago ?) In his youth he became infected with leprosy, and at the petition of the courtiers, who feared the contagion, his father banished him from the palace. The queen on his departure gave him a ring, as a token by which he should make himself known to her if he ever recovered. The young prince, when he reached Keynsham, met with a swine-herd, by whom he was retained as an assistant. In a short time he perceived that he had tainted the pigs with leprosy. The pigs, “ impelled by sudden phrenzy/* ran up the valley to the spot where the hot springs boiling up mixed their waters with decayed weeds and formed a bog. On washing themselves in this water the leprosy was dispelled. He doing likewise became whole, and returned to the palace with the ring. Hence, so it is said, arose the value of the Bath springs—probably legendary only. Buckinghamshire had many records of the disease but not many hospitals, because there were so few places to establish them ; but at Aylesbury there were two.1 They were both empty and destitute by 1360, which, seeing leprosy was by no means extinct by that date, is significant of the common mismanagement of these places. In the neighbouring county of Hertford, Geoffry de Gorham, the sixth abbot, founded, in the time of Henry I, a hospital at St. Albans.2 He was a mau of great energy apparently, and enlisted the interest of two popes and two kings. In 1344, Abbot Michael de Montmore made special regulations for the government of the hospital. It was intended for six lepers and officers. Henry II. gave it a charter confirming its position and rights : “ Sciatis me concessisse et presenti cartd confirmasse firmaose leprosis sancti Juliani de Heoed quiquid Gaufridas, Abbas Saudi Albani, consilio et communi assensu totius conventus sui, et alii eis rationabiliter concesserunt et dederunt.” 3 1 ‘Magna Britannica,’ Lvsons, 1806; Sir W. Dugdale, loc. cit., p.631; Tanner, loc. cit. 2 Speed, ‘ Hist, of Great Britain,’ 1632. 3 ‘Add. Hist, de S. Albano;’ Sir W. Dugdale, loc. cit., p. 61S.