C 320 ] 



If the facT: were really fo, what would become of 

 the inhabitants of Italy, of China, and more efpe- 

 cially of the iflands in the Archipelago; where, 

 from the immenfe numbers which are reared, the 

 whole atmofphere muft be impregnated with their 

 deleterious effects? I have been allured, by an in- 

 telligent friend, who fpent fome time in Italy, that 

 whenever they had epidemick complaints, the chil- 

 dren who had the care of the filk-manufactories in- 

 variably efcaped the contagion ; and this I have 

 reconciled on the principles of Dr. Priestley, who 

 afTerts, that the air in rooms is rendered doubly 

 falubrious, by the introduction of opening vege- 

 tables, or frefli-gathered leaves. 



The filk-worm in itfelf is totally inoffenfive; but 

 if dead ones are fuffered to remain among them, 

 they certainly become putrefcent, as other animal 

 fubftances, and of courle unwholfome. 



In the fummer in which I fed upwards of 30,000 

 in one room, nobody was the worfe for attending 

 them; and yet I frequently fpent whole days- with 

 them, as did many of thofe friends who were kindly 

 attentive to afiift me in the care of them. 



I know a lady who had a good many filk- worms; 

 fhe cleaned and fed them herfelf, and was feized 



with 



