144 



PURIFICATIO>r. 



Asia sparkle in the morning's rays. Not less punctual than their 

 American brothers, vultures, crows, storks, ibises, set out from their 

 balconies on their various missions : some to the fields, to destroy the 

 insect and the serpent ; others, alighting in the streets of Alexandria 

 or Cairo, hasten to accomplish their task of municipal scavengering. 

 Did they but take the briefest holiday the plague would soon be the 

 only inhabitant of the country. 



Thus, in the two hemispheres, the great work of public health is 

 performed with solemn and wonderful regularity. If the sun is 

 punctual in fertilizing life, these scavengers — sworn in and licensed 

 by nature — are no less punctual in withdrawing from his rays the 

 shocking spectacle of death. 



Seemingly they are not ignorant of the importance of their func- 

 tions. Approach them, and they will not retreat. When they have 

 received the signal from their comrades the crows, which often precede 



c ijm^'^' a. 



them and point out their prey, you will see the vultures descend in a 

 cloud from one knows not whence, as if from heaven ! Naturally 



