[199] Very possibly in many cases these affections of the extremities and genital organs owed their existence to _anthrax_ or _carbuncle_; for not only does _Hippocrates_ (p. 487.) say that ἄνθρακες πολλοὶ κατὰ θέρος καὶ ἄλλα ἃ σὴψ καλέεται (many cases of malignant pustule in Summer-time, as well as other complaints known under the general name of putrefaction) appeared under these meteorological conditions, but _Galen_ likewise (Method. med. bk. XIV., edit. Kühn Vol. X. p. 980.) observed an _anthrax_ epidemic in Asia, that itself began with numerous _phlyctaenae_ (blisterous swellings) resembling millet seeds; these subsequently broke and gave rise to an ἕλκος ἐσχαρῶδες (scabby sore). Indeed the destruction of the skin took place even without the previous occurrence of _phlyctaenae_. πολλάκις δὲ οὐ μία _φλύκταινα_ γεννᾶται κνησαμένων, ἀλλὰ _πολλαὶ_ μικραὶ καθάπερ τινὲς κέγχροι καταπυκνοῦσαι τὸ μέρος ὧν ἐκρηγνυμένων ὁμοίως ἐσχαρῶδες ἕλκος γεννᾶται· κατὰ _δὲ τοὺς ἐπιδημήσαντας ἄνθρακας ἐν Ἀσίᾳ καὶ χωρὶς φλυκταινῶν_ ἐνίοις εὐθέως ἀπεδάρη τὸ δέρμα. (And often _not one phlyctaena_ is originated on patients scratching themselves, but _many_ minute ones like millet seeds, closely covering the affected part; and when these have broken, a kind of scabby sore is produced. And in cases of _anthrax_ (malignant pustule), which was at one time epidemic in Asia, in some patients even without there having been previous _phlyctaenae_, the skin was immediately destroyed).—Comp. _Galen_, De tumor. praeternat. Vol. VII. p. 719. Further, this information is in any case of importance for the more correct appreciation of the facts as to the Plague of Athens.