2 9 ^ Supposed Connection of Volcanic Emanatioris 



The French, who are clearer-sighted in such cases than 

 their wiser neighbours (who keep up a hue and cry at the 

 rate of a guinea a day), early saw the absurdity of shutting 

 out a visiter which paid neither toll nor customs, and which 

 leaped over the wooden heads of the properly called " Boards 

 of Health," far into the midst of the land, while the cholera- 

 catchers were gaping and staring, in their expectancy of its 

 passport, to be " xru " and " vise," back again ; and, there- 

 fore, they relaxed the embargo on innocent wheat and coals, 

 and opened their ports to all comers. The fact of certain per- 

 sons taking it from associating with other certain infected 

 persons proves nothing against this ; because, when a disease 

 comes like the cholera, it, of course, attacks such as are pre- 

 disposed to receive its attack ; and the chances are, that in a 

 house, or a ship, or in any other community, the general 

 character of the health of the inmates may afford a number 

 who are all equally predisposed, and who cannot resist the 

 effects of an infectious atmosphere, whether that of the pri- 

 mary cause, viz. the locality, or that of the secondary cause, 

 an infected neighbour. As to the cholera itself, I would not 

 presume so much as to say, whether it may or may not have 

 been prevalent before 1832; but this, I think, I may venture 

 to say, that medical skill could not prevent it; for, if it could, 

 why did not all the wisdom of all the well-paid preventers 

 keep it away ?* Precautions were proper and indispensable; 

 and lives, no doubt, were saved by regulations for cleanliness, 

 abstemiousness, &c. ; and that is exactly what we may sup- 

 pose, in a moral view of such a case, would be the result. 

 For God sends his pestilence on the wings of the wind, and 

 the angel smites in the darkness those to whom he is sent ; 

 and a posture of readiness to await the arrival of the mes- 

 senger may, perhaps, avert the blow r . If this reasoning 

 appear absurd, I will retire to other ground. The present 

 prevailing epidemic will assuredly by some be allowed to 

 arise from atmospheric causes, although Mr. Spence (Vol. V. 

 p. 358.) says " No." I suffered from " La Grippe" in 



unlikely fact in most cases where rivers owe their direction, in part or 

 wholly, to ancient or modern agents of elevation. 



* There is nothing which shows the absurdity of some of the late 

 quarantine laws so much as the anomalies in their administration. While, 

 for instance, ships, at Sunderland, from non-infected places, were not per- 

 mitted to enter the devoted port, vessel after vessel, coach after coach, 

 day by day, during the prevalence of the disorder, were suffered to depart 

 on their destination, freighted, as the cholera guardians tried to persuade 

 the public, " mutatis mutandis," with death and desolation to all who 

 might come in contact with them. Oh, the glory of consistency ! oh, the 

 Value of the adage, " Exceptio probat regulam I " 



