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CHAP. 5—ELEPHANTIASIS.

We have already1 stated that elephantiasis2 was unknown in Italy before the time of Pompeius Magnus. This malady, too, like those already mentioned, mostly makes its first appearance in the face. In its primary form it bears a considerable resemblance to a small lentil upon the nose; the skin gradually dries up all over the body, is marked with spots of various colours, and presents an unequal surface, being thick in one place, thin in another, indurated every here and there, and covered with a sort of rough scab. At a later period, the skin assumes a black hue, and compresses the flesh upon the bones, the fingers and toes becoming swollen.

This disease was originally peculiar to Egypt. Whenever it attacked the kings of that country, it was attended with peculiarly fatal effects to the people, it being the practice to temper their sitting-baths with human blood, for the treatment of the disease. As for Italy, however, its career was very soon cut short: the same was the case, too, with the disease known as "gemursa" Fée thinks that this may have been a sort of abscess similar to those between the fingers which are known as fourches by the French, and by medical men as "Aposthema phalangum." Gruner considers it to be a sort of Elephantiasis, and Triller identifies it with the disease called Gumretha by the Talmudists. to the ancients, a malady which made its appearance between the toes, and the very name of which is now buried in oblivion.

1 In B. xx. c. 52.

2 Supposed, as Pliny says, to have originally come from Upper Egypt. Lucretius, B. vi. 1. 1111, et seq., attributes it to the water of the Nile. It is but rarely known in Europe.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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