174 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



diforders ; for, by fuch methods, fay they, 

 nature throws out the matter of the dif- 

 eafe; which, upon this prefumption, is 

 negle(5led in its milder flates, and allow- 

 ed to run on to a more dangerous height. 

 It is imagined farther, that one may get 

 rid of it by giving it to another; and 

 that its vigour decreafes in proportion to 

 the number of perfons through whom it 

 palles. But, which is ftill worfe, be- 

 caufe highly criminal in conduct, the in- 

 fe(5led often finding themfelves unjuftly 

 repnoached, avoided, and perhaps forfa- 

 ken, are exafperated, and enjoy a malici- 

 ous pleafure when they can involve others 

 in the fame calamity. Nothing lurely 

 jcan be more foolidi, abfurd, and wicked. 

 When v^e ccnfider the nature of it, 

 the difagreeable circumftances that at- 

 tend it, the many ways it may be com- 

 municated, how contagious it is, and 

 .difEcult iometimes to fubdue, a difeafe of 

 fuch a kind is j uftly, no doubt, to be dread- 

 ed. Innocent lufierers, however, wretch- 

 ed enough already, fliould not be made 

 more fo 5 and, from an undue fohcitude 



for 



