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