An essay on the nature and origin of the contagion of fevers ... / [John Alderson].

  • Alderson, John, 1757-1829
Date:
1788
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the nature and origin of the contagion of fevers ... / [John Alderson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I 3° ] Cloaths of thofe who died of the Plague diffufed certain Particles of the infediious Matter into the Atmofphere,” and he quotes the Fadts mentioned by Mercurialis—that the Plague in Venice was augmented by burning a large Quantity of infedted Goods in the City.” All this is readily accounted for on the Theory I have endeavoured to eftablidi. Combuftion rendering Air equally phlogifticated as does animal Refpiration, a large Colledtion of mephitic Matter preci¬ pitated upon the Cloaths, &c. would be rendered adtive by its Solution in the Air ; and all who came within its Influence would doubtlefs receive the Infedtion. Dr. Mead alio furnifhes us with another Fadl; which will bear the fame Explanation—■ at Shipfton, a poor Vagabond was feen walking in the Streets with the Small-pox upon him—the People, frightened, took Care to have him carried to a little Houle feated upon a Hill at forne Diftance from the Town, providing him with proper Ne- ceflaries. In a few Days the Man died, they ordered him to be buried deep in the Ground, and the Houfe and his Cloaths to be burnt, —the Wind being pretty high blew the ^ Smoke