Volume 1

Observations on the nature and cure of hospital and jayl-fevers. In a letter to Doctor Mead / [Sir John Pringle].

  • Pringle, John, Sir, 1707-1782.
Date:
1750
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the nature and cure of hospital and jayl-fevers. In a letter to Doctor Mead / [Sir John Pringle]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    49/54 (page 47)
    by a general convalefcence, upon changing the ground. But however careful the Keeper may be in thefe points, he cannot oblige the prifoners to be cleanly in their perfons, muchlefs is he able to preferve the air pure, when crowds of people are pent up in a clofe place. In which cafe there is no degree of cleanlinefs^ either of the room or of the perfons in it, that can fecure them from falling fooner or later into a jayl fever, efpecially if there is any ficknefs, or putrid fores among them, I have even known the hofpital fever begin in crowded barracks, where there was no other diftemper ; and tho’ the men had an opportunity of having freih air all the day. Such is the danger of breathing in air full of animal fleams, which are the excrementf- tious parts of the humours, * The fault here feems partly to lie in the contrivance of thejayls, which never can be fo healthful whilft they are too fmall for the number of prifoners, or too infecure to be without dungeons, and without any conve¬ nience of a court for the freedom of air, as i is