Part 16

We do not indeed find the _Disease_ mentioned by _Gascoigne_, was distinguish’d by any particular Name: But great Numbers must unavoidably die of the _Venereal-Malady_ at that time, from the imperfect Knowledge of those who had the Treatment of the first Degrees of it. It must necessarily follow, therefore, that when the whole Frame of the Body had receiv’d a Taint from the _Venereal-Poison_, so as to occasion its breaking-out in Scabs and Ulcers, almost all over its Surface, it must generally be called by the Name of some particular Disease, whose Appearances had somewhat of an Affinity to it. Now if we examine the Nature of all the Diseases, that attack the Human Body, we shall not find the _Venereal-Malady_, when it arrives at this State, to bear a greater Similitude to any than the Leprosy, as it is described by the Ancients: Nay, so great was the Analogy betwixt these Diseases supposed to be, that _Sebastianus Aquilanus_ has endeavoured to prove from _Galen_, _Avicen_, _Pliny_, &c. that the _Pox_ is only one Species of the _Leprosy_; and _Jacobus Cataneus_, a Writer almost as early as the Rise of the Name of the _Pox_, tells us, ’tis not only possible there may be a Transition from one of these Diseases into the other; but that he saw _two_ Persons in whom the _Pox_ was changed into the _Leprosy_: That is, from having great _Pocks_ or _Pustules_ on the Surface of their Bodies, from whence the _Pox_ is denominated, to have become Ulcerous or Scabby. This particular State of the Disease anciently put the Surgeons to a great deal of Trouble: For they finding that these Ulcers were of a very contumacious and rebellious Nature, were obliged to make use of great Numbers of Remedies, in order to conquer the evil Disposition of them. But they observed that all of them were useless, unless Mercury was joined with them. Now the dressing each particular Ulcer being so very tedious, they ordered the Patients to daub the Ointments over the Parts which were ulcerated; which done, they were wrapt in Linnen Cloths till the next dressing: But after a few Days they were extreamly surprised, to find their Mouths began to be sore, and that they spit very profusely; but they tell us to their Astonishment, that in a little time the Sores became healed, and the Patients cured. And by this Accident it was the Method of _Salivating_ by _Unction_ was first discover’d, which is in so much use among us at this Day. From these and some other Instances I have given of the Industry and Application of our Predecessors, and with what Sagacity they applied every accidental Hint, to the relieving their distressed Fellow-Creatures from the Misfortunes they laboured under; we ought to be led to the highest Esteem and Veneration of them; and so much the more most certainly forasmuch as they were principally our own Country-Men, who, I can prove, not only from several Persons coming from _Foreign-Parts_ to be cured of their Diseases _here_, but for other Reasons, that they excelled most of their Cotemporaries in the Divine Art of Healing. Now altho’ those _Foreign-Authorities_, I before mentioned, might be looked upon as sufficient to convince any one, how our Ancestors blended these _two_ Diseases together; yet I shall prove from our own Writers, long before those, that altho’ the _Pox_ was not only among us, but in distant Nations, anciently confounded with the _Leprosy_; yet, so exact were our Writers in their Observations of the Infectious Nature of one Species of that Disease, and describing the Symptoms, as was sufficient to lead any Person to the distinguishing between them, so as to separate _one_ Disease from the _other_. I shall therefore _first_ enquire into the manner how the _Leprosy_ was sometimes said to be gotten in those early Times, and then examine the Symptoms of the Disease, that attacked the Patient. _John Gadisden_, a very learned and famous _English_ Physician, who flourished about 1340, in an excellent Work of his, he entitles _Rosa Anglica_, speaking _de Infectione ex Coitu Leprosi, vel Leprosæ_, says as follows, _Primo notandum quod ille qui timet de excoriatione & arsura Virgæ post coitum statim lavet Virgam cum aqua mixta aceto, vel cum urina propria, & nihil mali habebit_; and in another Place speaking _de Ulcere Virgæ_, he says, _Sed si quis vult membrum ab omni corruptione servare, cum a Muliere recedit, quam forte habet suspectam de immunditie, lavet illud cum aqua frigida mixta cum aceto, vel urina propria, intra vel extra preputium_. He likewise speaking still of the _Leprosy_, recommends a Decoction of Plantain and Roses in Wine, to be made use of by the Woman immediately after the _Venereal-Encounter_; upon which he tells us she will be secure. From hence it is evident some of their _Leprous Women_ (as they call’d them) were capable of communicating an infectious Malady to those that had carnal Conversation with them; which proves, the _Pudenda_ of the Women must be diseased, for as much as we are absolutely assured Infections of that Nature only happen when a sound Part comes to an immediate Contact with a diseased one; for the Symptoms always first display themselves in those Parts, thro’ which the Virulency is first conveyed. Now in a true _Leprosy_ we never meet with the mention of any Disorder in those Parts, which, if there be not, must absolutely secure the Person from having that Disease communicated to him by Coition with _Leprous-Women_; but it proves there was a Disease among them, which was not the _Leprosy_ altho’ it went by that Name; and that this could be no other than _Venereal_, because it was infectious; for there is no other Disease that is capable of being communicated this way but the _Venereal-Disease_, seeing the _Pudenda_ are only in that Distemper so diseased as to become capable of communicating their Contagion. I find the learned _Gilbertus Anglicus_, who flourished about 1360, reasoning concerning the manner how it is possible a Man should be infected by a _Leprous-Woman_; where if we allow him to call the _Malignant Matter_, which is lodged in the _Vagina_ [_the Womans seed_] we shall find he acurately describes the very first _Venereal-Infection_, by part of the virulent Matters being received into the _Urethra_; from whence by the Communication of the _Veins_ and _Arteries_, it is conveyed into the whole Body, after which (_says he_) ensues its total Corruption. Let us now examine the Symptoms of one sort of their Leprosy, for it must be necessarily divided into different Species, when another Distemper was blended with it, in which we observe such a _diversity_ of _appearances_; and this I shall the rather do in this Place, because it will furnish us with the next Succession of Symptoms after those already mentioned, as the _Venereal-Ozænas_, the Ulcers of the Throat, the Hoarsness, the proof of its being communicable from the Nurse to the Child, by _Hereditary-succession, &c._ All which we find to be true in the _Venereal-Disease_ at this Day. Our Country-Man _Bartholomew Glanvile_, who flourished about 1360, in his Book _de Proprietatibus Rerum_, translated by _John Trevisa_ Vicar of _Barkley_ in 1398, tells _us, some_ Leprous-Persons _have redde Pymples and Whelkes in the Face, out of whom oftene runne Blood and Matter: In such the Noses swellen and ben grete, the virtue of smellynge falyth, and the Brethe stynkyth ryght fowle_. In another place he speaks of _unclene spotyd glemy and quyttery, the Nose-thrilles ben stopyl, the wason of the Voys is rough, and the Voys is horse and the Heere falls_. Among the Causes of this sort of _Leprosy_, he reckons lying in the Sheets after them, easing Nature after them; and others which the first Writers on the _Pox_ looked upon to be capable of communicating that Contagion: Also, _says he, it comyth of fleshly lykeng by a Woman, after that a_ Leprous-Man _hathe laye by her; also it comyth of Fader and Moder; ann so thys Contagyon passyth into the Chylde as it ware by Lawe of Herytage. And also when a Chylde is fedde wyth corrupt Mylke of a Leprous Nouryce._ He adds, _by what ever Cause it comes, you are not to hope for Cure if it be confyrmyd; but it may be somewhat hidde and lett that it distroye so soone._ Thus we see how our Author, under the Name of _one_ Species of the _Leprosy_, gives a Summary of the Symptoms of the _Pox_, and the several ways whereby it is at this time communicated. Now when these _two_ Diseases were anciently blended together, and passed under the Name of the _Leprosy_ only, it must be the real Cause why that _Disease_ seemed to be so _rife_ formerly; for _two_ Distempers passing under _one_ Name must necessarily make it more taken notice of and much more frequent; not but that much the greater Number of those who were formerly said to be _Leprous_ were really _Venereal_, seems to be very evident; for since that _Disease_ has been separated from the _Leprosy_, it has drawn off such vast Numbers, that the _Leprosy_ is become as it were a perfect Stranger to us. Those who are acquainted with our English History well know the great Provision which was anciently made throughout all _England_ for _Leprous-Persons_, insomuch that there was scarce a considerable Town among us but had a _Lazar-House_ for such diseased. In a Register which belonged to one of these Houses, I find there were in _Hen._ the VIIIth’s time 6 of them near _London_, (_viz_,) at _Knight’s-Bridge_, _Hammersmith_, _Highgate_, _Kingsland_, the _Lock_, and at _Mile-end_, but about 40 Years before I find but 4 mentioned: and in 1452 in the Will of _Ralph Holland_, Merchant-Taylor, registred in the Prerogative Office, mention is made but of 3, which, with his Legacies to them, are as follow. _Item lego Leprosis de Lokes, extra Barram Sti Georgii 20s. Item lego Leprosis de Hackenay_ (which is that at _Kingsland_) _20s. Item lego Leprosis Sti Egidii extra Barram de Holborn 40s_, from which it is worth while to note, that the _Lock_ beyond St. _Georges_ Church, and that at _Kingsland_, are at this time applyed to no other use than for the Entertainment and Cure of such as have the _Venereal-Malady_. Some of our learned Antiquaries have been much concerned to know the Cause why the _Leprosy_ shou’d be so common in those early times, and so little known among us now: But I believe the Reason will be impossible to be assigned, unless we allow, according to the Proofs which I have already brought, that the _Venereal-Disease_ was so blended with it, as to make up the Number of the diseased. It seems to have been the same thing with them in _France_ as with us: For _Mezeray_ tells us, that the House of the _Fathers_ of the _Mission_ of St. _Lazarus_, was formerly an _Hospital_ for _Leprous-People_, but that Disease being ceased in this last Age (since the _Pox_ has been separated from it) these _Lazar-Houses_ have been converted to other Uses; and it may not be perhaps foreign to my purpose to take notice that the Writ _de Leproso amovendo_ contained in the _Register of Writs_ was (according to _Coke_ upon _Littleton_) to prevent Leprous Persons associating themselves with their Neighbours, who appear to be so by their Voice and their Sores; and the Putrefaction of their Flesh; and by the Smell of them. Well then, let us examine what Method was to be taken to prevent this noysom and filthy Distemper, the Leprosy; why truly that which would infallibly prevent their getting the _Pox_ after the usual Method, and that was Castration. It is certain that _Eunuchs_ are rarely or never troubled with the Leprosy, according to _Monsieur le Prestre_, a Councellor in the Parliament of _Paris_, who has these Words, _Antipathia vero Elephantiasis veneno resistit: Hinc Eunuchi & quicunque sunt mollis, frigidæ & effeminatæ naturæ nunquam aut raro Lepra corripiuntur, & quidem quibus imminet Lepræ periculum de consilio medicorum sibi virilia amputare permittitur_. (Cent. I. Cap. 6. de Separatione ex causa Luis Venerea.) And _Mezeray_ says, he has read in the Life of _Philip_ the _August_, that some Men had such Apprehensions of the _Leprosy_, (that shameful and nasty Distemper) that to preserve themselves from it, they made themselves _Eunuchs_. Now it is highly probable that those Persons who submitted to such a painful Operation, having before observed, that those who gave themselves up to a free and unrestrained use of Women, fell at length under such unhappy circumstances; and so found the only measures to preserve themselves from it was to be disabled for such engagements, which sufficiently proves this Species of the _Leprosy_ was infectious; and for the reasons before assigned could be no other than _Venereal_; for how the true _Leprosy_ should be prevented by such means will be, I believe, impossible for any Person to determine. There yet remains one very considerable Symptom of the _Venereal-Malady_ for me to take notice of, because it is looked upon to be the most remarkable in that Disease, which, is the falling of the Nose; but since it has been already proved, that this Disease when it had arrived to such a pitch as to discover it self by those direful Symptoms, as are the immediate forerunners of this, was by the Ancients confounded with the _Leprosy_, and called by that Name, it must be among the Symptoms of that _Disease_ we are the most likely to meet with it, if any such thing as the falling of the Nose was known among them. Now the most likely Method of coming to a certain Knowledge of the Infallible Symptoms of the _Leprosy_ of the Ancients in its more confirmed State, is to consult the Examinations those unhappy Persons were obliged to undergo, before they were debarred the Conversation of Human Society, and committed to close confinement: But this being a thing some Ages since laid aside, no Author that I know of having the particular History of it, I shall do it as briefly as I can from what Remains I have met with in Records, and other scattered Papers. First then, after the Persons appointed to examine the Diseased had comforted them, by telling them this Distemper might prove a Spiritual Advantage; and if they were found to be _Leprous_, it was to be looked upon as their Purgatory in this World; and altho’ they were denied the World, they were chosen of God: the Person was then to swear to answer truly to all such Questions as they should be asked; but the Examiners were very cautious in their Inquiries, lest a Person who was not really _Leprous_ should be committed, which they looked upon to be an almost unpardonable Crime: They considered the Signs as _Univocal_, which properly belonged to that Disease, or _Equivocal_, which might belong to another, and did not, upon the appearance of _one_ or _two_ Signs, determine the Person to be a _Lazar_; and this I find to be the Case of the Wife of _John Nightingale_ Esq; of _Brentwood_ in _Essex_, who in the Reign of _Edw._ the IVth, _An._ 1468, being reported to be a _Lazare_, and that she did converse and communicate with Persons in public and private Places, and not (according to custom) retire herself, but refused so to do, was accordingly examined by _William Hattecliff_, _Roger Marcall_, and _Dominicus de Serego_ the Kings Physicians; but they upon strict Inquiry adjudged her not to be _Leprous_, by reason the Appearances of the Disease were not sufficient: Some of the Questions put to the _Leprous-Persons_, which will more fully confirm what I have before advanced, I shall now give as I transcribed them from an Ancient Book of Surgery, _yf there were any of his lygnage that he knew to be_ Lazares _and especially their Faders and Moders; for by any other of their Kynred they ought not to be_ Lazares, _then ought ye to enquire yf he hath had the Company of any lepress Woman, and yf any_ Lazare _had medled with her afore him; and lately because of the infect matter and contagyous filth, that she had received of him. Also his nostrils be wyde outward, narrow within and gnawn. Also yf his lips and gummes are foul stynking and coroded, Also yf his voice be horse, and as he speaketh in the nose._ Now the Signs which are here mentioned, were looked upon to be _Univocal_: And these were they who made the _Examiners_ principally determine the Persons to be _Leprous_; but what Determinations any one would immediately give from such Symptoms now, no Person is surely ignorant of. But even these certain appearances would not always satisfy some Persons, if we may believe _Fælix Platenus_ in his _Medicinal_ and _Chirurgical_ Observations, _Lib._ 3. who tells us, some did not look upon them to be so, till they had an horrible aspect, were _hoarse_ and _Noses_ fell. Likewise in the _Examen Leprosorum_ printed in the _De Chirurgia Scriptores Optimi_, the Author speaking of the _Signs_ of the _Leprosy_ relating to the _Nose_, begins thus, _Si nares exterius secundum exteriorem partem ingrossentur, & interius constringantur, & coarctentur, secundo si appareat cartilaginis in medio corosio, et casus ejus significat Lepram incurabilem_. And the before mentioned _John Gadisden_ in his Chapter _de Lepra_ says as follows, _Signa confirmationis etiam incurabiliter sunt corrosio cartilaginis quæ est inter foramina & casus ejusdem_. Thus, Sir, have I proved we had a Distemper amongus some hundreds of Years before the _Venereal-Disease_ is said to have been known in _Europe_, which was called the _Burning_; that this _Burning_ was _Infectious_, and that it was the _first Degree_ of the _Venereal Disease_; that this being common at that time, from their Method of Treatment; the _Pox_ must be unavoidable: That it had exactly the same Appearances it has now, altho’ they were generally called by _different_ Names, that the Ancients confounded it with the _Leprosy_; that the vast Numbers of _Leprous-Persons_ among us, before the _Venereal-Disease_ was separated from it, and the small Number we observe at this Time, is a flagrant Proof of the former; that in describing the _Symptoms_ of the _Leprosy_, they give us those of the _Venereal Malady_; and, by mentioning how it is communicated, they describe the Ways by which the _Pox_ is gotten at this Day; that such Remedies were by them recommended to prevent the _first_ Attack of the _Leprosy_, as are at this Time in Use to prevent the _first_ Symptoms of the _Pox_; and that the falling of the _Nose_, which has been look’d upon to be the most remarkable Symptom of the _Venereal-Disease_, was commonly observed in what they called the _Leprosy_ in former Ages.

_I am, Sir, Yours_, &c, WILLIAM BECKETT.

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