2. Among special diseases mentioned in the Old Test, are, ophthalmia (Gen. xxix, 17, 0^3^ msS'S), which is perhaps more common in Syria and Egj'pt than anj^- where else in the world, especially in the tig season, the juice of the newly-ripe fruit having the power of giving 1 it. It may occasion partial or total blindness (2 Kings j vi, 18). The eye-salve (KoXXvptov, Kev. iii, 18; Hor. Suf. i) was a remedy common to Orientals, (i reeks, and Komans (see Hippocr. KoWovpiov ; Celsus, vi, 8, Be ocu- lonim morbis, [2] De diversis collyriis). Other diseases are — barrenness of women, which mandrakes were sup- posed to have the power of correcting (Gen. xx, 18; comp. xii, 17; xxx, 1, 2, 14-16); "consumption," and several, the names of which are derived from various words, signifying to burn or to be hot (Lev. xxvi, 16 ; Deut. xxviii, 22) [see Fever] ; compare the kinds of fever distinguished by Hippocrates as KavaoQ and irvp. The " burning boil," or " of a boil" (Lev. xiii, 23, T.'2'^l 'pn'i'il, Sept. ov\i) Tov tKicovc), is again merclj' marked by tlie notion of an effect resembling that of fire, like the Greek (pXiy^ovr'i, or our '• carbuncle ;" it may possi- bly find an equivalent in the Damascus boil of the pres- ent time. The "botch ('pn'd) of Egypt" (Deut. xxviii, 27) is so vague a term as to yield a most uncertain sense ; the plague, as known by its attendant biiho, has been suggested by Scheuchzer. It is possible that the Elephantiasis Grceconim may be intended by "i'^H"^, un- derstood in the widest sense of a continued ulceration until the whole' body, or the portion affected, may be regarded as one 'pri'iIJ. Of this disease some further notice will be taken below ; at present it is observable that the same word is used to express the "boil" of Hezekiah. Tliis was certaiidj^ a single locally-confined eruption, and was probably a carbuncle, one of which may well be fatal, though a single " boil" in our sense of the word seklom is so. Dr. Mead supposes it to have been a fever terminating in an abscess. The diseases rendered "seal)" and "scurvy" in Lev. xxi, 20; xxii, 22 ; Deut. xxviii, 27, may be almost any skin-disease, such as those known under the names of lepra, iisoriaris, pityriasis, icthyosis, favus, or common itch. Some of these may be said to apjjroach the type of leprosy as laid down in Scripture, although they do not appear to have involved ceremonial defdement, but only a blemish disqualifying for the priestlj' office. The (luality of being incurable is added as a special curse, for these dis- eases are not generally so, or at any rate are common in milder forms. The " running of the reins" (Lev. xv, 2, 3; xxii, 4, marg.) may perhajis mean ;/onorrhwa, or more probaldy lilrniioriliaa (mucous discharge). If we com- pare Numb. XXV, 1, xxxi, 7, with Josh, xxii, 17, there is ground for thinking that some disease of this class, de- rived from polhiting sexu.'d intercourse, remained among the people. Tlio existence o( (/(niurrlKvu in early times — save in the mild form — has been much disputed. i\Ii- chel Levy {Trait e d'/Ii/r/ieiie, p. 7) considers the affirma- tive as establislied by the above passage, and says of syphilis, "Que pour notre jiart, nous n'avons jamais pu cuusiderer comme une nouveaute du xv"' siecle." lie
certainly gives some strong historical evidence against the view that it was introduced into France by Spanish troops under Gonzalvo de Cordova on their return from the New AVorld, and so into the rest of Eurojie, where it was known as the morbus Gallicus, He adds, "La syphilis est perdue confusement dans la pathologic an- cienne par la diversite de ses symptomes et de ses alte- rations; leur interpretation collective, et Icur redaction en une seule unite morbide, a fait croire ii lintroduction d'une malailie nouvelle." See also Freind's History of Mi'd., Dr. Mead, Miehaelis, Ileinhart (liihtUcraukhciten'), Schmidt (Jiibli-scli. Med.), and others. Wunderbar (Bib.- Ttdni. Med. iii, 20, commenting on Lev. xv, and compar- ing Mishna, Zabim, ii, 2, and Maimonides, ad loc.) thinks that yonorrhaa beniyna was in the mind of the latter writers. Dr. Adams, the editor of Paul. yEgin. (Sydenh. Soc, ii, 14), considers syphilis a modified form of ele- phantiasis. For all ancient notices of the cognate dis- eases, see that work, i, 593 sq. The " issue" of xv, 19, may be the menorrkagia, the duration of which in the P2ast is sometimes, when not checked by remedies, for an indefinite period (Matt, ix, 20), or uterine hemorrhage from other causes.
In Deut. xxviii, 35 is mentioned a disease attacking the " knees and legs," consisting in a " sore botch which cannot be healed," but extended, in the sequel of the verse, from the " sole of the foot to the top of the head." The latter part of the quotation would certainly accord with Elej)hantiasis Gneconim; but this, if I lie whole verse be a mere continuation of one described malady, would be in contradiction to the fact that this disease commences in the face, not in the lower members. On the other hand, a disease which affects the knees and legs, or more commonly one of them only— its jirincipal feature being intumescence, distorting and altering all 1 the proportions — is by a mere accident of language I known as Elephantiasis A rubum, Bucnemia Tropica (Rayer, iii, 820-841), or " liarbadocs leg," from being well known in that island. Supposing, however, that the affection of the knees and legs is something distinct, and that the latter part of the descrijjtion applies to the Elephantiasis Gi'cecorum, the incurable and all-j)ervading character of the malady are well expressed by it. This disease is what now passes under the name of "leprosy" (^Miehaelis, iii, 259) — the lepers, e. g. of the huts near the Zion gate of modern JerustUcm are elcphantiac?. It has been asserted that there are two kinds, one pain- fid, the other painless; but, as regards Syria and the East, this is contradicted. There the parts affected are quite benumbed and lose sensation. It is classed as a tubcrcidar disease, not confined to the skin, but per- vading the tissues and destroying the bones. It is not confined to any age or either sex. It first appears in general, but not always, about the face, as an indurated nodule (hence it is improjierly called tubercular), which gradually enlarges, inllanies, and ulcerates. Sometimes it commences in the neck or arms. The ulcers will heal si)ontaneously, but only after a long period, and after destroying a great deal of the neighboring parts. If a joint be attacked, the ulceration will go on till its de- struction is complete, the joints of linger, toe, etc., drop- ping off one by one. Frightful dreams and fetid breath are symptoms mentioned by some jiathologists. More nodiiics will develop themselves, and, if the face be the chief seat of the disease, it assumes a leonine aspect (hence called also Leontiasis), loathsome and hideous; the skin becomes thick, rugose, and livid; the eyes are fierce and staring, and the hair generally falls off from all the parts affected. When the throat is attacked the voice shares the affection, and sinks to a hoarse, husky whisper. These two syn)i)loms arc eminently character- istic. The patient will become bed-ridden, and, though a mass of bodily corruption, seems happy and contented with his sad condition, until, sinking exhausted under the ravages of the disease, he is generally carried f)ff, at least in Syria, by diarrha-a. It is hereditary, and may be inoculated, but does not propagate itself by the closest