I have already taken occasion to speak of the leprosy of the middle ages, as identical with the species of cutaneous disorder, which has been variously denominated the tubercular leprosy, (_Lepra tuberculosa_); the leprosy of the Arabians (_Lepra Arabum_); and the elephantiasis of the Greeks (_Elephantiasis Græcorum_). The particular form of chronic cutaneous disease, to which these different appellations have been severally applied, is an affection very distinctly marked in its more leading symptoms and course. Before, however, attempting to prove that the European and British leprosy of former times was specifically identical with the malady in question, it will expedite our investigation of the question if, in the first instance, we obtain a precise and perfect picture of the tubercular or Arabian leprosy itself. By adopting this plan, we shall have placed before us a standard, as it were, by which we can judge of and test those more or less imperfect descriptions of the leprosy of the middle ages, which we may in the sequel have occasion to quote and animadvert upon. And in order to obtain such a standard of comparison as we have now in view, and that without any possibility of prejudging the subject, I shall cite the description of this species of disease from Dr. Bateman of London, and Dr. Schedel of Paris;—from the first, because the characters which he has given of this and other cutaneous affections are generally and justly looked upon by British pathologists as the most clear and distinct that can anywhere be referred to;—and from the last, because his account of tubercular leprosy is, I believe, the latest that has issued from the medical press, and the author has already, by a former work,[144] distinguished himself by the excellence of his descriptions, and the precision of his diagnosis of cutaneous diseases. MODERN DESCRIPTIONS AND DEFINITIONS OF TUBERCULAR LEPROSY. “The elephantiasis,” says Dr. Bateman[145] “(as described by the Greeks), is principally characterised by the appearance of shining tubercles, of different sizes, of a dusky red or livid colour, on the face, ears, and extremities; together with a thickened and rugose state of the skin, a diminution or total loss of its sensibility, and a falling off of all the hair, except that of the scalp.