FUMIGATIONS TO DESTROY CONTAGION. 345 



ral acid fumigations afford a certain preservative, a remedy 



" the efficacy of which can no longer be disputed. 



The more secret motives there are, to mislead opinion on Testimonies 



collected by 

 this subject, the more incumbent on me it is, to collect such jyi r Guyton. 



facts as testimonies, as may produce conviction. I have at 



present some to communicate to you, which cannot fail to 



appear capable of making an impression on all those, who 



are not misled by prejudice; and I will add some remarks 



f on the bottles for destroying contagion, which are not yet 



sufficiently known, and the method of employing them for 



the use of a large hospital, so as to have always at hand, 



without trouble or expense, a certain preservative, and a 



powerful stimulus, the strength of which may be regulated 



at pleasure. 



Letter from Dr. Mojon. 



Dr. Mojon, professor of chemistry and member of the At 9 en ? a ac?d 

 Medical Society at Genoa, who h.id already furnished me employed 

 with some valuable information respecting the use of mine- a £ amst 

 ral acid fumigations in that city, which makes a part of the 

 additions to the second edition of my treatise, has since 

 addressed* to me the following letter. 



" As soon as we perceived the progress of the epidemic an e P idemic 



fever, recourse was had to the acid fumigations in our 



churches, hospitals, lazarettoes, prisons, and barracks, and 



in the chambers of several sick persons. 



" On the 20th of March, 1800^ was sent for to St. An- in a church 



.. , , , . . against noxious 



drew's church, where two grave-diggers had dropped dead, effluvia, 



just as they were going down into a vault. I found the 

 church offensive with putrid exhalations ; and immediately 

 directed the vault to be walled up. After causing the win- , 

 dows to be shut, I placert in the midst of the church a large 

 earthen vessel containing six pounds of common salt, and 

 three of sulphuric acid. Some lighted faggots were placed 

 round the vessel, to accelerate the extrication of the va- 

 pours, which ceased at the expiration of two hours, and 

 then the windows were opened. The noisome smell was 

 completely gone, and the church was used as before, with- 

 out any thing offensive being perceived. 



" I ob- 



