Seasonable considerations on the indecent and dangerous custom of burying in churches and church-yards. With remarkable observations historical and philosophical ... Proving, that the custom is not only contrary to the practice of the ancients, but fatal, in case of infection / [Anon].

Lewis, Thomas, 1689-1749?

Date:: 1721

Credit: Seasonable considerations on the indecent and dangerous custom of burying in churches and church-yards. With remarkable observations historical and philosophical ... Proving, that the custom is not only contrary to the practice of the ancients, but fatal, in case of infection / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$that Naufeoufnefs and Vomitings which difcover the Infedion : And therefore, all Perfons, and thofe e- fpecially that tend, and come near the Sick are rightly advifed to guard their Noftrils, and by no Means to fwallow their Spittle, but fpit it out, left they fwal- low that very Diftemper others labour under, and re¬ ceive that Corruption, which may prejudice their Health, if not deftrcy their Lives. There is a very great Power in the Air to com¬ municate and fet forward any Motion that is in it, or any Thing that hangs in it. This is generally iHufi* traced by a gentle Touch on the Trunk of a Tree not heard by thofe that ftand by, which notwith- ftanding, gives a great Sound, and is eafily heard by thofe that are at the other End of the Tree througn that folid Body; or elfe, by the Experience of the fofteft Whifper conveyed by the hollow Surface of a long Gallery at a very great Diftance: And alfo, by two Lutes being fcrewed to an equal Heighth, and an Hundred, or more Feet afunder; if any one be touch’d, the other String that anfwers it fhall fpcak, though untouch’d, only by the trembling of the Ain And if a Bit of Paper, or Chaff, be laid on a String, touch the String of the other Lute which anfwers to it, and it will ihake and caft off its Burden. What invifible Hand carries the Sound \ In the fame Man¬ ner, the Air communicates Diftempers from one Body to another that is analogous, and of the fame Confti- tution> as, we fee one bleare Eye caufes another to tear, and fo the Pailions of the Mind are likewife rai ■ fed for a lafcivious Eye will ftir up that fame PaTion in another. What ftrange Effeds do we fee of Antipathy, or natural Repugnancy ? Some Men have a natural Aver- fion to fome Creatures, and how' quick does it work upon them through the Air, they that have an An¬ tipathy to Cats, now foon are they fenfible of them, and furprifed when they come near them, although they fee them not, and they be lock’d up from them, through$